New Zealand, Japan, Mexico & Argentina Win, SVNS Restructure Ripples | WRR 202

Women’s Rugby 7s News

International

• The IRFU announced it will cut the Ireland men’s sevens program after the 2024–25 season as part of cost-saving measures, a move widely criticized as short-sighted and damaging to the sport’s Olympic and development pathway [link]
  • Terry Kennedy called the IRFU’s decision to cut Ireland’s men’s sevens program after the 2024–25 season “nothing short of a disgrace,” slamming it as short-sighted and disrespectful to players, funders, and the sport’s Olympic potential
  • Former IRFU high-performance director David Nucifora blasted the decision to cut Ireland’s men’s sevens program as short-sighted and gut-wrenching, calling for sevens to be taken out of World Rugby’s control to reach its full potential [link]
  • The IRFU confirmed it will maintain the women’s program as a key development pathway within its long-term strategy for Irish rugby [link]
• Days after Ireland cut its men’s sevens team, GB Rugby announced it will end full-time sevens programs for both men and women in July, shifting to a part-time, camp-based model due to financial pressures and a desire to align more closely with 15s development [link]
• Argentina went unbeaten to win the women’s title at the 2025 SAR 7s in Lima, with Colombia finishing second and both teams qualifying for the 2026 World Rugby Challenger Series [link]
• CORRECTION: Shogun claimed the first women’s elite title of the LIT Super Sevens Series at Oxford 7s, edging out the Hong Kong in the final, with the next leg set for Shelford 7s on June 7 [link]
  • We had erroneously reported that the Vaquita Hammerheads won the Final over the  Akuma Savvy Pumas when in fact they won the Plate Final.
  • With 3 stop to go, see the LIT Super 7s Series schedule here

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

• New Zealand claimed the 2025 Pacific Four Series title on point differential after a 79-14 win over the USA, edging out Canada who finished second; Australia placed third, while the USA ended the tournament winless [link
  • Records were made and milestones shattered as Portia Woodman-Wickliffe scored seven tries to become the Black Ferns’ all-time leading XVs try scorer with 45, matched her home Test record, surpassed 200 total tries, while Katelyn Vahaakolo hit 100 and Hope Rogers extended her mark as the most-capped Women’s Eagle with 54 [link
• Canada dominated the Wallaroos 45-7 in their final PAC4 match, keeping them firmly in second place in the World Rugby Rankings and sending a strong signal ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup [link]
  • Wallaroos head coach Jo Yapp will step down after the 2025 Rugby World Cup to return to England for family reasons, ending a successful tenure that included Australia’s first-ever title with the 2023 WXV 2 win [link]
• Japan dominated the 2025 Asia Rugby Women’s Championship with back-to-back wins over Kazakhstan and Hong Kong to secure their third straight title, while Hong Kong finished second and Kazakhstan went winless [link]
• The 2025 RAN Inter-Regional tournament kicked off with Mexico defeating Jamaica 39-19 in the opening match [link]
• There was some movement in the World Rugby Rankings as Mexico and Czechia climbed to 26 and 40 respectively, while Kazakhstan, Tonga, China, Trinidad & Tobago, and Colombia dropped [link]
• World Rugby announced a landmark rights agreement with CBS Sports, making Paramount+ the home of World Rugby in the US through to 2029 [link]
• USA Women’s Eagles Turn Pro for the First Time in Run-Up to 2025 Rugby World Cup [link]
• The Six Nations Women’s Summer Series is back for a second edition in July 2025, reaffirming its place as a vital stepping stone on the pathway to elite international rugby [link]
• Legal Cases Converge: Three Lawsuits Challenge USA Rugby’s Governance [link]
• For the first time in the history of English rugby, Premiership Rugby, the Rugby Players Association (RPA), Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) will unite to honour the superstars of the sport in an unforgettable evening for The Rugby Awards 2025 [link]
• Next weekend features Jamaica vs Trinidad & Tobago in the RAN XVs, Bordeaux vs Toulouse in the Elite 1 Final, the IGR Union Cup and NORAM Cup including the Ruck You Match in Norway, and the start of the Europe 7s Championship [link]

Premier & Club

• Bordeaux topped Romagnat 34-18 and Toulouse edged Blagnac 27-23 in the Elite 1 semifinals—setting up a Championship final clash on May 31, airing on Canal+ and France 4 as part of a doubleheader with Clermont v Stade Français [link]
• In WER Round 10, Denver Onyx and Bay Breakers held strong at home with no changes in the standings, but Denver became the first team to qualify for the WER Legacy Cup on June 29 at TCO Stadium, with all six teams set to return next week and shake up the table [link]
  • WER has resumed streaming select matches, and if available, you can watch at https://www.womenseliterugby.us/watch-online.

Women’s Rugby Features

• Saint Lucia’s Electra Marie-Yvonne Marcelle selected for PAISAC’s Applied Sport Sciences for Olympic Solidarity Scholarship Coaches Training Program [link]
• PNG Palais veteran Alice Alois continues to lead on and off the field, balancing motherhood, a full-time job, and elite rugby as she earned Player of the Tournament honors at the 2025 Sport Tok 7s while keeping her international dream alive [link]
• Katelyn Vahaakolo and Ilona Maher discuss women’s rugby growth in Auckland [link]
• Wallaroos’ Ashley Marsters admits how tough Pacific Four has been [link]
• Joanna Grisez: ‘We cannot escape reality- we are a bit behind right now’ [link]
• Not just a coach: Dennis Mwanja is rewriting the rules for women in rugby [link]
• Aoife Wafer signs for Premiership Women’s Rugby side Harlequins [link]
• USA Women’s Falcons back to Brazil for additional match time with extended playing squad [link]
• Jordaan to return to Rugby World Cup in a new role with South Africa [link]
• Japan’s Sachiko Kato: ‘The boys were always getting hurt trying to tackle me’ [link]
• Women’s Sport takes centre stage across the BBC in summer 2025 [link]
• Ferns to play fear-free footy [link]
• Wales flanker Joyce-Butchers announces pregnancy
  [link]
• Italy’s Aura Muzzo: ‘We are a team that wants to play with continuity’ [link]
• Black Ferns co-captain backing sevens stars to make an impact [link]
• An insult to women’s sport? Ticket detail exposes a gap for female fans [link]
• Duck details ‘frustrating’ injury return as Wallaroos star keeps World Cup alive [link]
• By the time Aoife Wafer was six years old, she already had a clear idea of her future [link]
• Impendle woman in national rugby squad [link]
• Kena Rugby Union Launches Women’s Rugby Committee to Champion Development and Inclusivity [link]
• Wafer Honoured As Guinness Women’s Six Nations Player Of The Championship [link]
• Anathi Qolo will lead the Springbok Women to Madagascar, where they will defend their Rugby Africa Women’s Cup title [link]

Women’s Rugby Media

• BBS Newsround: How has women’s rugby progressed?
• The Women’s Rugby Show: Bonus Episode – Back with the Ferns
• Full Credit: Oh Canada
• Banana and Bear’s Rugby Pod: “It’s Shneck’s Time”
• The Bonus Point Rugby Pod: Growing the game
• LTW Fancast: Return of the Jess
• England Rugby: World record breaker | Rocky Clark: My Journey