Thailand Sweeps SEA Games, New Coaches for Black Ferns & Scotland, and Asia Rugby Suspended | WRR 228

Women’s Rugby 7s News

International

• Thailand secured a fifth consecutive women’s rugby sevens title a few weeks ago at the 33rd South East Asia Games, completing the tournament without conceding a single point. The hosts finalized their dominant run at Dhupatemiya Stadium with a 37-0 shutout victory over Malaysia in the final. [link]
  • Malaysia made history by winning their first ever silver medal in the women’s event after defeating Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia to reach the final. Despite facing pre-tournament setbacks including a flu outbreak within the squad, the team improved on their previous bronze medal finishes to claim their highest regional ranking to date. [link]
• The road to the elite ranks begins January 17 through 18 as Dubai hosts the high-stakes HSBC SVNS 3 qualifier. This event represents the only opportunity for eight aspiring nations to secure one of two promotion spots into the SVNS 2 circuit. While South Africa and Poland are the teams to watch, Argentina is expected to challenge for a position at the top of the standings. With no safety net in this new three-tier structure, teams must deliver clinical performances this weekend to avoid being relegated to regional competitions until 2027. [link]
• The 2026 McDonald’s Coral Coast Fiji 7s will take place from January 15 to 17 at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka, featuring a record-breaking women’s field. Ten elite teams are split into two pools, with reigning champions Fijiana 7s leading Pool WA alongside the Manly Mermaids and China’s first national side. Pool WB features the New Zealand Women’s 7s, the Pacific Nomads, and China’s second team, marking a significant increase in international depth for the tournament. [link]
• Asia Rugby faces a complex 2026 season as several premier Sevens events move forward despite the governing body’s ongoing provisional suspension from the World Rugby Council. Thailand will compete for global promotion at the HSBC SVNS 3 in Dubai on January 17 and 18, while the SEA 7s kicks off in Singapore on January 30 and 31. Japan remains the region’s sole representative in the top tier at the HSBC SVNS Singapore from January 31 to February 1, leading into the high profile 50th anniversary of the Hong Kong Sevens this April. [link]

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

• World Rugby provisionally suspended Asia Rugby from its Council on December 1, 2025, following a damning report on financial and governance failures. The organization faces a payment freeze and over $500,000 in debt due to unresolved legal status in the UAE and “toxic” leadership concerns. While Japan’s Kensuke Iwabuchi has been reinstated after an unconstitutional removal, many 2026 tournaments remain in limbo pending a mandatory reform roadmap. [link]
  • Asia Rugby unions are pivoting toward new regional competitions as the inaugural Southeast Asia Rugby Football (SEARF) Women’s Championship XVs debuts in Malaysia from February 11 to 14. This milestone tournament features Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, providing a crucial developmental pathway while the official Asia Rugby Championship remains in limbo due to administrative debt. Later this year, the spotlight shifts to the WXV Global Series where Japan and Hong Kong will represent the continent against international opposition throughout September and October. [link]
• Scottish Rugby appointed former USA boss Sione Fukofuka as the new Head Coach of Scotland Women. The Australian succeeds Bryan Easson and arrives with a decade of international experience, including a recent stint leading the USA Eagles through the 2025 World Cup. Fukofuka will relocate to Edinburgh in January to oversee a schedule that begins with an away clash against Wales in the 2026 Six Nations on April 11. [link]
• Whitney Hansen has been appointed as the new Black Ferns Head Coach through the end of 2027, succeeding Allan Bunting. A former assistant during the successful 2021 World Cup campaign, Hansen becomes the 13th head coach in the program’s history and the second woman to lead the side. She will oversee an 11-Test schedule in 2026 before preparing for the historic British and Irish Lions series the following year. [link]
• The Wolfhounds have reclaimed the top spot in the Celtic Challenge standings after Round 2, leading the pack as the only undefeated team with a perfect 10-point haul. Following their bonus-point win over the Clovers, they sit three points clear of Gwalia Lightning and Glasgow Warriors, who are locked in a battle for second place. The Clovers round out the top four, holding onto a playoff position by a narrow margin over Edinburgh as the league shifts toward a high-stakes third round. [link]
• The Fijiana will launch their 2026 international campaign against Australia in Canberra on March 27 to compete for the Vuvale Bowl. The Fiji Rugby Union is also finalizing a home series against South Africa in April and negotiating additional tests with Japan under a new Memorandum of Understanding. Later in the year, the team will travel for the WXV tournament in September to face Spain, Hong Kong China, and the Netherlands. [link]
• Yahoo! Finance shares that the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup was a commercial landmark, generating $14.7 million in sponsorship revenue led by $2.5 million deals with Asahi and Capgemini. The tournament sold over 440,000 tickets, culminating in a world-record crowd of 81,885 at the September 27 final. Digital engagement also peaked with 905 million social impressions, cementing the event’s status as the most-watched women’s rugby tournament in history. [link]
• The record-breaking 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup was celebrated in the King’s New Year Honours List on December 29. Chair Gill Whitehead received an OBE and Managing Director Sarah Massey was awarded an MBE for leading a tournament that sold over 444,000 tickets. Members of the champion Red Roses were also honored, including captain Zoe Stratford and head coach John Mitchell, following a final that drew a world record crowd of 81,885. [link]

Domestic

• Stirling County claimed the Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership title on December 13 with a dominant 39-12 victory over Watsonian FC at Bridgehaugh. Player of the Match Sky Phimister was the star of the afternoon, scoring four tries to lead her side through brutal weather conditions. While Watsonians opened the scoring early, Stirling took control before halftime and utilized a powerful second half surge to secure the championship and complete a flawless season. [link]
• Saracens entered the Christmas break atop the PWR table following a 36-17 victory over Sale. Gloucester-Hartpury kept pace by routing Leicester 75-12 to secure a club-record 18th consecutive league win. Elsewhere, Harlequins defeated Bristol 38-12, while Loughborough and Trailfinders fought to a dramatic 29-29 draw. [link]
• The 12th All Japan Women’s Rugby Football Championship is set to kick off its final stages with a unique double-header format alongside Japan Rugby League One matches. Both semi-finals will take place on Saturday, January 17, with matches held in Kanagawa and Hyogo immediately following the men’s professional fixtures. The tournament concludes with a standalone final at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo on February 1. [link]
  • While the Kansai qualifiers are locked in as the PEARLS (winners) and Japan University of Economics Women’s Rugby Club AMATERUS (runners-up), the Kanto representatives will be decided this Sunday, January 4. The winner and runner-up of the high-stakes matchups between the Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars vs. Nippon Sport Science University and Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix vs. YOKOHAMA TKM will fill the final two spots in the national bracket. [link]
• New Zealand Rugby announced a Farah Palmer Cup restructure that moves the competition to two six-team pools based on new minimum standards rather than playoff results. Under the new alignment, the Premiership features Auckland Storm, Bay of Plenty Volcanix, Canterbury, Counties Manukau Heat, Manawatū Cyclones, and Waikato [link]
  • Despite winning the 2025 Championship final, the Otago Spirit have been denied promotion and will remain in the Championship to maintain the six-team pool balance. Standard promotion and relegation rules are set to resume following the 2026 season to ensure future movement is decided by on-field performance. [link]

2026 Season Outlook: International & Domestic Highlights

With the introduction of the new permanent global calendar, 2026 is shaping up to be a massive year of transition and growth. Here is the roadmap for what’s coming [link]:

International & Major Tournaments

• HSBC SVNS Series: The elite sevens circuit continues its global tour with stops in Singapore (Jan 31–Feb 1), Perth (Feb 7–8), Vancouver (Mar 7–8), and New York (Mar 14–15). The World Championship legs will follow in Hong Kong, Valladolid, and Bordeaux through June.
• Guinness Women’s Six Nations: Running from April 11 to May 17, the 2026 edition features a new “Super Saturday” and “Super Sunday” format where all three matches are played back-to-back.
• WXV Global Series: Launching in September 2026, this new home-and-away format will see the top 12 nations compete globally. Meanwhile, teams ranked 13–18 (including Hong Kong China, Fiji, and the Netherlands) will gather in a single host destination for their centralized tournament.

Domestic & Regional Highlights

• Super Rugby Aupiki & Super W: Both major Southern Hemisphere professional leagues have shifted to a new mid-year window. Super Rugby Aupiki (NZ) and Super W (Australia) will now run from June to August, culminating in a trans-Tasman Champions Final in late August.
• Women’s Elite Rugby (USA): Following its successful debut, the first professional women’s league in the United States, WER, is slated to kickoff its second season in May.

Women’s Rugby Features

• Liberated at last: the once shy obsessive who led England to glory [link]
• Chasing the Egg: A Short History of the Rugby Ball [link]
• A year to remember and a year to forget for Wales [link]
• From highs and lows to home advantage – Kenya rugby’s focus shifts to HSBC Division II [link]
• Finn is mature beyond her Rugby years [link]
• ‘I didn’t want to do another cycle the same way’: Kévin Rouet [link]
• Metcalfe-Jones named head of women’s rugby at Quins [link]
• PWR and Elite 1: what are the differences between the two competitions? [link]
• ‘I’ve loved it’: Parry relishing starting role with Harlequins [link]
• Italy U21 Women’s Team: Azzurrine’s coaching staff selected [link]
• Polina Krakowska, former Black Roses Poznan player and member of the Polish national rugby team has passed away [link]
• A Kinsale company turned this giant Ireland Women’s RWC jersey into cool gearbags [link]
• Alessia Russo meets Jess Breach: ‘They have done for rugby what we did for football’ [link]
• Desiree Miller among five World Cup Wallaroos re-signed for 2026 [link]
• ‘A symbol of courage’: tributes paid to Springbok captain Lusanda Dumke [link]
• Kiwi feature documentary NO TEARS ON THE FIELD explores the untold story of grassroots women’s rugby in Aotearoa through to the world stage [link]
• England U21 Women’s training squad of the season named [link]
• South Africa Rugby to establish national coaching forum [link]

Women’s Rugby Media

• Le Rouge Rugby: We are Water, featuring Kevin Rouet
• Full Credit: Stocking Stuffer
• The Good, The Scaz & The Rugby: The Big 2025 Review with Meg Jones
• Rugby Rodeo: RWC Heartache, Embracing Individuality & English Culture
• LTW Fancast: Oh God Here Comes the Circus
• Squidge Rugby:
  • The Second Row
  • The Centres
  • The Front Row
  • The Halfbacks
  • The 288 Greatest Rugby Moments of 2025