Black Ferns Dominate Dubai; SVNS Map & Teams Confirmed; Ball Size Trial | WRR 226

Women’s Rugby 7s News

International

• The Black Ferns absolutely crushed Australia’s five-year winning streak in Dubai, ending their 32-game unbeaten run in the desert with a dominant 29-14 performance in the final. Meanwhile, Japan made history by securing their first-ever podium finish in an HSBC SVNS tournament, snagging the bronze medal by beating Fiji 22-12. Overall, the tournament kicked off the new season with New Zealand grabbing gold and Japan making a massive statement for third place. [link]
• The 32nd annual Dubai Invitational 7s was absolutely huge, featuring 17 divisions across eight fields. In the top-tier International Women’s Invitational, Australia snagged the title, while Monaco Umusa took the Open division and Looseheadz claimed the Social championship. [link]
• The women’s Cape Town draw is serving up some immediate drama for the Black Ferns. They are locked into Pool A and have to face the USA, which was the only team to beat them in Dubai, plus Fiji and Great Britain. Meanwhile, losing finalists Australia headline Pool B, but they will have their hands full with a super-confident Japan squad, who just snagged their first-ever podium finish, alongside Canada and France. [link]
  • Pool A: FIJ, GBR, NZL, USA
  • Pool B: AUS, CAN, FRA, JPN
• We already knew about the huge three tiered expansion of the HSBC SVNS, but now we have the full layout. The top Division 1 will compete across six global events before heading to the three event World Championship Series ending in Bordeaux, France. Teams for Division 2 and Division 3 were selected based on their performance in previous World Championships and rankings, and they will now face one Challenger event for Division 3 and three tournaments for Division 2, all focused on promotion and relegation. [link]
  • SVNS 1: New Zealand, Australia, Canada, France, Fiji, Great Britain, Japan, USA
  • SVNS 2: Brazil, China, Kenya, Spain, 2 more teams to be confirmed from SVNS 3
  • SVNS 3: Argentina, Colombia, Czechia, Mexico, Poland, Samoa, South Africa, Thailand
• World Rugby is expanding trials of a new ball for women’s rugby to this years’ HSBC SVNS Series. The new bespoke size 4.5 ball has been developed in partnership with Gilbert to be the same weight as a size 5 whilst maintaining the advanced aerodynamic and technological features. [link]
  • We are seriously questioning World Rugby’s decision to expand the size 4.5 ball trial in the women’s SVNS Series, demanding they provide the scientific evidence to prove this change will truly elevate the game instead of limiting our athletes. We already know the standard size 5 ball works because the women’s game is crushing it, setting high benchmarks for speed and dynamic play, so the burden is completely on World Rugby to justify this distinction with transparent, biomechanical data. Frankly, resources should be focused on the real crises facing the sport: addressing alarmingly high injury rates and systemic inequality, not prioritizing an unproven equipment change. [link]
    • The rugby community is wary of World Rugby hiding behind subjective player sentiment. This is the same non-transparent methodology used to justify the controversial 2020 transgender ban, which the governing body defended by claiming “comprehensive consultation and engagement”. Now, they are attempting to justify an equipment change with the same vague assurances. [link]
    • If the size 4.5 ball is truly an innovation designed to unlock creativity and handling skills, thereby making the game objectively better, then it should be immediately trialed across the Men’s SVNS Series as well. If the potential benefit is genuine, why restrict the innovation solely to the women’s game? 
    • This is what we know about the game’s actual improvement, proving the size 5 ball is not a limiting factor:
      • Faster and More Dynamic: The tournament saw increased ball-in-play time, averaging 36 minutes which actually outpaced the Men’s RWC 2023. Plus, we saw fewer knock-ons, quicker ruck speeds, and overall better discipline with fewer yellow cards.
      • High-Scoring Action: The number of tries per match averaged approximately 9.2, which is dramatically higher than the Men’s RWC 2023 average of about 6.8 tries per match. This shows the game is already super-thrilling and scoring lots of points.
  • Lots of other columnists had strong feelings:
    • Irish Women’s Rugby Supporters Club: World Rugby’s expanded size 4.5 ball trial is a total distraction, and we absolutely need to question why they are complicating things with an equipment change that nobody was calling for. When we demand different gear, it creates a logistical nightmare for already cash strapped clubs and hinders inclusion, especially since the women’s game doesn’t actually suffer using the size 5 ball. The real problem is viewing women’s rugby through the meaningless lens of men’s comparison; we need to move past that and celebrate the unique tactical differences and nuances of our game, while demanding World Rugby prioritize the true systemic issues like inequity in funding and the critical sports medicine research gap. [link]
    • Alice’s Soapbox: The argument that a size 4.5 ball will unlock women’s rugby is total nonsense, even if our hands are smaller, because decades of practice and proper coaching overcame any size issue. We are fighting this because changing the ball size emboldens the existing attitude that women’s rugby is somehow “lesser,” despite the incredible skills already displayed, and dedicating resources to this unproven change just entrenches more privilege for the top teams. The real focus should be on proper professionalism, coaching, and ensuring every single team has access to the basic, necessary resources. [link]
    • BBC: They claim this is to adapt equipment to anatomical differences, saying the change aids handling without hurting kicking, and will help women’s rugby “forge its own path.” However, there is a clear division among players who are concerned about matching the men’s game and the massive extra costs this separate equipment will put on grassroots clubs. [link]
    • RugbyAsia24/7: Seriously, no one in the women’s game seems to want it. While the governing body claims the smaller ball, which is the same weight as a size 5, gives players greater control, the consensus from players and coaches is that the skills shown at the RWC 2025 prove no change is actually needed. This decision looks like a major waste of time and resources when the sport needs to address far bigger issues, especially considering the budgetary challenges facing developing nations. [link]

Domestic

• The inaugural LIT Florida International 7s Tournament has concluded, wrapping up a massive event with 24 teams competing in Bradenton, Florida. In the Women’s Open division, the champions were the LIT Legends, the highly competitive Women’s Elite title was snagged by LIT USA, and Loons Academy won the U18 Challenge. This successful tournament marks the first time organizers have brought their popular European sevens expertise to the United States [link]

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

• Ireland announced a massive 35 centralized contracts for the Women’s High Performance Program as they charge into the 2025/26 season. Seven players, who came up through the pathways like the Under 20s team, earned their first senior contracts, proving the talent development system is really working. This announcement sets the stage for a busy year, including the Celtic Challenge, and kicks off with the first ever standalone Women’s international at Aviva Stadium against Scotland in the 2026 Six Nations. [link]
• The French Rugby Federation just named François Ratier as the new head coach and selector for the Women’s XV national team, kicking off a fresh performance cycle aimed at the 2029 World Cup. FFR President Florian Grill stated this appointment brings fantastic collective energy to match the sport’s spectacular growth, which includes record crowds and audiences. Ratier, who has huge national and international experience, will take charge starting in January 2026, with his first challenge being the Six Nations opener against Italy on April 11. [link]
• Try scoring machine and Red Roses legend Abby Dow has retired from professional rugby after an unbelievable 23 year career, which ended on the ultimate high with the 2025 Rugby World Cup win. Dow, who scored an astonishing 50 tries in 59 Test caps, is hanging up her boots to pursue her other passion, engineering, but she leaves behind a legacy of seven Six Nations titles and countless crocheted gifts for fans and even royalty. [link]

Domestic

• The Honey Badgers absolutely owned the Rugby 10s Championship (R10), snagging the title across the women’s, girl’s, and men’s franchises. This incredible run marks their fourth consecutive year dominating the championship. [link]
• In the Arnold Clark Premiership, Stirling County delivered a massive statement by defeating fellow finalists Watsonians 38-15, completing the regular season with an absolutely perfect 65 points and setting the stage for their Grand Final showdown on December 13. Meanwhile, Cartha Queen’s Park scored a crucial 51-16 bonus point win over Biggar to move into seventh place, boosting their survival hopes ahead of their bottom of the table relegation clash against Garioch this coming Saturday. [link]
• Round 7 of the Energia AIL Division was dominated by the visitors, with four away wins shaking up the table. Railway Union absolutely destroyed Cooke 105-0, while UL Bohemian dominated Wicklow 43-10, fueled by a hat trick from Beth Buttimer right after she earned her full contract. Meanwhile, Old Belvedere staged a determined comeback to defeat Galwegians 22-19, and Ballincollig’s win over Tullow moved them up to seventh place. [link]
• Gloucester-Hartpury absolutely dominated Round 5, crushing Bristol 54-14 to maintain their perfect start to the PWR season and proving they are the team to beat. Saracens also delivered a huge statement by completely overwhelming Trailfinders 57-5 in their London derby. Meanwhile, Loughborough celebrated a huge 50-15 derby win over Leicester, fueled by Bo Westcombe-Evans’ spectacular four tries, while the clash between Sale and Exeter ended in a thrilling 26-26 draw. [link]
• Round 6 of AXA Elite 1 saw a major shakeup near the top as Stade Bordelais absolutely dominated Montpellier Hérault Rugby, winning 29-0, while Stade Toulousain crushed Blagnac 52-22 to keep pace. Crucially, ASM Romagnat earned a tough road victory over FC Grenoble 17-10 to maintain their lead atop the table. Elsewhere, AC Bobigny got a crucial 28-14 win over Toulon, and Lyon OL U defeated Stade Villeneuvois 24-15. [link]

Women’s Rugby Features

• Madison Ashby reveals support from NZ star before 573-day SVNS return [link]
• Ireland’s O’Dowd and Hogan sign for PWR clubs [link]
• Fiji Rugby Union Commends Rise of Fijiana Rugby as Breaking Ground Documentary Premieres in Suva [link]
• Why are we seeing an influx of Black Ferns into the PWR? [link]
• Maddison Levi on why Australia can ‘dominate’ the 2025/26 SVNS Series [link]
• IRFU announces two Ireland stars to join the PWR [link]
• SVNS enters bold new era with host cities confirmed for all three tiers [link]
• ‘Fiona’s So Creative As A Coach’ – Murtagh Enjoying Old Belvedere’s Different Approach [link]

Women’s Rugby Media

• Chief Executive Office – Asia Rugby [link]
• Challenging the Game: Care and respect
• The Good, The Scaz & The Rugby: Sheriff Meg Jones on Leadership, Rattails & The RWC Comedown
• Rugby Rodeo: England’s New Magician & the Hardest Tackler in Women’s Rugby
• LWT Fancast: Let’s Get Loughborough