Welcome to Women’s Rugby Rundown 201 for May 12-18. We start with the Asia Rugby Championships, where Japan opened their title defense with a dominant shutout over Kazakhstan. In PAC4 action, Canada and New Zealand battled to a thrilling draw in Christchurch, while the Wallaroos outlasted the USA. World Rugby marked 100 days to go with a new trophy and fresh ticket release as England 2025 shapes up to be the biggest Women’s Rugby World Cup yet. There were four domestic championship matches this weekend, including the USA Club Nationals, where the Utah Vipers and Las Vegas Irish took home titles. In Spain, El Salvador snapped Majadahonda’s seven-title streak to claim the Iberdrola Final, and in Uganda, the Black Pearls secured their fourth straight crown. All eyes are on International Gay Rugby (IGR) this summer, with two flagship tournaments taking place the same weekend. The 2025 Union Cup kicks off in Oslo with 45 inclusive teams from across Europe and will feature what’s believed to be the first match of its kind, the “Ruck You Match.” Meanwhile, the 2025 NORAM Cup follows in Boston, bringing together LGBTQ+ clubs and allies from across North America, hosted by the Boston Ironsides RFC. And we round up all the global Premier and Club competitions worldwide.
Women’s Rugby Rundown Video
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Women’s Rugby 7s News
International
- International Rugby Players (IRP) has called for players to be at the heart of any future discussions on the future of the Sevens game [link]
Women’s Rugby XVs News
International
- Japan Sakura XVs thrashed Kazakhstan 90-0 in Asia Rugby Women’s Championship 2025 opener [link]
- Canada and New Zealand played to a thrilling 27-27 draw in Christchurch, with Canada nearly pulling off back-to-back wins against the Black Ferns but settling for a tie that keeps them ranked second in the world heading into their final PAC4 match against Australia [link]
- The Wallaroos edged the USA 27-19 in Canberra behind standout performances from Charlotte Caslick and Ashley Marsters, gaining a confidence boost ahead of their Rugby World Cup rematch this September [link]
- With 100 days to go until kickoff, World Rugby unveiled a new Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy and released more tickets as England 2025 gears up to be the biggest and most inclusive tournament in the sport’s history [link]
- The International Gay Rugby (IGR) kicks off in Olso on May 28 with 45 inclusive teams across Europe and will feature the first-ever “Ruck You Match” in Oslo on June 1, where a team of trans women will face international women’s players during the IGR Union Cup, aiming to challenge bans and champion inclusion in rugby [link]
- You can support this ground breaking match by donating to their GoFundMe
- With 100 days to go until Rugby World Cup 2025, Japan has launched a new site spotlighting the Sakura Fifteen [link]
- More rugby is on the way with Kazakhstan facing Hong Kong and Japan taking on Hong Kong in the Asia Rugby Championship, Australia meeting Canada and New Zealand facing the USA in PAC4 action, and an international matchup between Jamaica and Mexico [link]
Premier & Club
- There were two new champions at the USA Club Women’s Rugby National Championships as Utah Vipers stunned defending D1 titleholders NOVA and Las Vegas Irish took down 2023 WD2 champs Tampa Krewe en route to a thrilling D2 Final win over Phoenixville Whitehorse [link]
- The Black Pearls are Uganda Women’s Rugby Premiership champions for the fourth straight year, sealing the title by a single point despite a 24-10 loss to the Thunderbirds, who ended their incredible 35-match unbeaten run dating back to 2021 [link]
- Colina Clinic El Salvador clinched the Iberdrola Rugby League title with a 31-12 win over Majadahonda, completing the league and cup double and snapping their rival’s run of seven straight championships to secure their second national XVs crown [link]
- The 2025 NORAM Cup, North America’s largest inclusive rugby tournament and part of the IGR network, heads to Boston from May 30 to June 1 with Men’s+, Women’s+, and the All Trans Match, celebrating community, competition, and belonging through rugby [link]
- Boston and New York came away with wins in WER Round 9, with New York breaking the tie with the Breakers and Boston holding onto second by four points as we head into a huge weekend with 1v2 Denver vs Boston and Bay vs New York, all eyes on the postseason [link]
- WER has issued an update about broadcast/streaming indicating that their partnership with DAZN has been paused [link]
Women’s Rugby Features
- The Springbok Women wrapped up a productive two-week camp in Stellenbosch, laying a strong foundation ahead of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Madagascar and setting their sights on building depth and cohesion for the Rugby World Cup [link]
- Captain Palu pumped for Wallaroos Canberra homecoming [link]
- Anathi Qolo captains Springbok Women targeting Rugby Africa Women’s Cup defence [link]
- Waratahs back-rower Ruby Anderson is set to make her Wallaroos debut at just 18 years old against the USA, capping off a dream camp filled with surprises, growth, and a birthday party shared with teammates she now calls family [link]
- Lady Cranes Rugby 15s Players return to camp ahead of Rugby Africa Women’s Cup [link]
- Hong Kong Women 15s Head To Asia Rugby Women’s Championship 2025 With New-look Coaching Team and A Debutante [link]
- HSBC named Official Retail Bank of Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 [link]
- Asahi names England’s Ellie Kildunne as Rugby World Cup 2025 ambassador [link]
- World Rugby announces Emirates Match Official panel selected for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England [link]
- Edinburgh Rugby stalwart Natasha Logan has signed for Harlequins [link]
- Hollie Davidson is to become the first female referee to officiate at a European club rugby final after being placed in charge of the EPCR Challenge Cup showpiece between Bath and Lyon [link]
- Jorja Miller faces race against time in Black Ferns World Cup bid [link]
- 30 new players called up to Kenya Lionesses ahead of Rugby Africa Cup [link]
- Wales have 100 days to turn into world beaters [link]
- Ilona Maher Waltzes Back to Make Her Second SI Swimsuit Appearance [link]
- ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’: Zainab Alema on why representation matters for Muslim women in rugby [link]
- What have we learned from the opening two games of the Wallaroos’ campaign? [link]
- Nine Entertainment selected to broadcast all major World Rugby tournaments including Rugby World Cups through to 2029 [link]
- Defence coach Hugh Hogan’s exit stuns Ireland women’s team [link]
- How Ticketmaster is powering the biggest and best Women’s Rugby World Cup yet [link]
- Perform Better confirmed as Official Supplier of Strength and Conditioning Equipment for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 [link]
- Rugby World Cup motivation for Gisborne’s Black Fern Olsen-Baker [link]
- “See It. Believe It” – Jodie Ounsley: Ex-England sevens star & Gladiator’s ‘Fury’ is smashing down negative views of women’s rugby [link]
- TNT Sports agrees deals with Premiership Rugby and Premiership Women’s Rugby [link]
- Lowering the legal tackle height in women’s rugby is proving effective in reducing head contacts between players, a world-first study suggests [link]
- Marine Menager will retire after the Rugby World Cup in September [link]
- Rachel Taylor joins Loughborough Lightning coaching team [link]
Women’s Rugby Media
- Full Credit: Play by Play
- Challenging the Game: Stats of the game
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