Black Ferns Rules SVNS, World Rugby’s New Sevens Model & Pacific Four Kickoff | WRR 199

Women’s Rugby 7s News

International

• New Zealand claimed the 2025 HSBC SVNS World Championship with a 31-7 win over Australia, Canada beat USA 27-7 for bronze, and Brazil, China, Kenya, and Spain qualified for next year’s Division 2 [link]
  • HSBC SVNS Women’s Dream Team of the Year in Partnership with HSBC [link]
    • NZL: Michaela Brake, Jorja Miller, Risi Pouri-Lane
    • AUS: Maddison Levi, Isabella Nasser
    • BRA: Thalia Costa
    • JPN: Marin Kajiki
  • Jorja Miller was named women’s HSBC SVNS Player of the Year 2025 [link]
  • Rookie of the Year award won by USA’s Nia Toliver [link]
  • Following a fan vote, Minako Taniyama of Japan was awarded Try of the Year [link]
  • Japan women were also awarded the Fair Play Award [link]
• World Rugby unveiled a revamped HSBC SVNS model featuring a three-tier competition structure, expanded 13-event calendar, and a streamlined promotion pathway—all aimed at boosting financial sustainability, global growth, and Olympic momentum ahead of LA 2028 [link]
  • World Rugby’s new Sevens format has three levels — but fewer teams get to play in the top group:
    • Division 1: The main stage. Just 8 teams per gender will compete in 6 high-profile events with all the visibility, broadcast, and top-tier exposure. These are the core teams:
      • Qualified Teams: New Zealand (Champions), Australia (Runners-up), Canada (Bronze), USA, Fiji, Great Britain, Japan, France
    • Division 2: The second tier. 6 teams per gender playing across 3 tournaments. Still competitive, but with less spotlight. A stepping stone, not the destination.
      • Qualified Teams: Brazil, China, Kenya, Spain
      • Two additional teams to be confirmed
    • Division 3: Will feature teams that did not qualify for Divisions 1 or 2. These teams will compete in regional competitions with the opportunity to advance to a standalone Challenger event. The top two teams from this event can earn promotion to Division 2.
      • Qualified Teams: South Africa, Argentina
      • Six additional teams to be confirmed
  • Kenya’s coaches and players expressed deep frustration and heartbreak over World Rugby’s last-minute format change that blocked Shujaa’s path to core status despite a strong season, while the Lionesses remain focused on promotion; alongside Kenya, other teams and figures—like Mike Friday, Pablo Feijoo, and Stephen Tomasin—have also spoken out against the new SVNS structure, highlighting growing discontent with its impact on Tier 2 and 3 nations [link]

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

• Canada kicked off their Pacific Four Series title defense with a 26-14 win over the USA in front of a near capacity crowd, sealing the match with two late tries and extending their win streak to 10 before both teams head south for the next rounds [link]
• The Wallaroos opened their 2025 campaign with a dominant 43-7 win over Fijiana in Suva, extending their win streak to four despite losing stars Maya Stewart and Bienne Terita to injury [link]
• Uganda’s Emily Lekuru, the country’s first professional women’s rugby player, is continuing to chase new opportunities in Japan after launching her pro career through a rugby program in New Zealand [link]
• Canada’s women’s rugby team will play their only home test of 2025 on August 1 in Ottawa against the USA—a classic rivalry and final send-off before the Rugby World Cup [link]
• Three big matchups this Saturday: Australia faces New Zealand in PAC4 (RugbyPassTV), Norway meets Latvia in the Europe Conference (RugbyEuropeTV), and Villorba battles Valsugna for the Italian Series A Elite title [link]

Premier & Club

• Vancouver Thunderbirds made it four successive BC Rugby Women’s Premier League titles with an impressive 43-17 win over Westshore [link]
• Takia edged Bilibili 25–23 in a thriller at Albert Park to claim the 2025 Na Soko Women’s Championship, wrapping up three weeks of fierce competition and development in Fiji [link]
• Denver remains undefeated in WER Week 7 as New York moves to second and Boston and the Breakers, tied on points, are set to break the deadlock this weekend [link]
• Final brackets are set for the USA Club Women’s Rugby National Championships May 16–18 in Indianapolis [link]
  • D1: Metropolis Valkyries, NOVA, Houston sHARCs, Utah Vipers
  • D2: Grand Rapid Growlers, Phoenixville Whitehorse, Tampa Bay Krewe, Las Vegas
  • Atlantic D3: Portland
• In Round 12 of the Uganda Premiership, Nile Rapids took a 20-0 walkover win over the Panthers, Black Pearls beat the Ewes 46-5, and Thunderbirds defeated the Avengers 43-10 to keep the Pearls at the top of the table [link]
• The new Copa do Brasil, launching July 5, will decide Brazil’s women’s XVs title with semifinals featuring Melina vs. the São Paulo runner-up and the Paulista champion vs. the Southern League winner, ahead of a final in early August [link]

Women’s Rugby Features

• Five things we learnt from Wallaroos-Fijiana [link]
• On Friday night at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, prop Hope Rogers made her 52nd appearance for the USA Women’s Eagles, officially becoming the most-capped Women’s Eagle in history [link]
• ‘I’m devastated’ – Ireland’s Dorothy Wall ruled out of Women’s World Cup [link]
• Dan Murphy appointed Gloucester Hartpury Head of Rugby [link]
• Yapp pleased with dominant Wallaroos win as team sweats on Stewart, Terita injuries [link]
• Veteran forward Karen Paquin returns for Canada’s Pacific Four Series title defence [link]
• Ruby Tui left out of Pacific Four Series squad [link]
• ‘Rookie’ Caslick proud to jump out of comfort zone for Test debut [link]
• How Western’s athletic community is affected by recent Trump administration actions [link]
• All roads return to LA for Mpupha and Namba [link]
• Olympic gold-winning footy star Ellia Green reveals the love he has rediscovered after transitioning from a woman to a man [link]
• Wall Ruled Out Of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup Campaign [link]
• Katie Lohaus talks WER, unconventional path to rugby, worth off the pitch [link]
• The Player Perspective: Helena Rowland [link]
• U.S. Women’s Rugby Team highlighting sport ahead of match in KC [link]
• Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy to embark on a three-week tour across RWC 2025 host locations [link]
• Spur and South Africa Rugby strengthen ties with expanded four-year partnership[link]

Women’s Rugby Media

• Mudder Rucker: Smells Like Team Spirit
• MLR Weekly:Utah’s Lance Williams, Gemini’s Maris Hall, CRC 7s Recap, MLR News, Opinion, Highlights