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Welcome to WRR 229 for January 5-11. This week, we celebrate a historic sweep in Spain as El Salvador secures the Iberian Cup to complete their quartet of major titles. We also look at a massive financial boost for Kenya’s Olympic journey and the announcement of a landmark first-ever meeting between South Africa and the Black Ferns on South African soil. In the Celtic Challenge, the Wolfhounds continue to assert their dominance by remaining undefeated through three rounds of play. Finally, we round things out with league-leading performances in the USA, Japan, Italy, and Spain as clubs fight for playoff positioning in the second half of their seasons.
WRR Video
Women’s Rugby 7s News
International
- Kenya received a major boost for their 2028 Olympic cycle with a $50,000 scholarship from the International Olympic Committee. Captain Sheila Chajira will lead the squad as they begin preparations for the HSBC SVNS 2 tournament scheduled at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi. This funding provides essential stability for the team as they aim to qualify for the World Rugby Sevens Series and challenge for a historic Olympic medal. [link]
- The HSBC SVNS Championship Grand Final is set to take place in Bordeaux from June 5 to 7. This event will crown the men’s and women’s world champions and marks the first time the French Olympic gold medalists will compete on home soil since the 2024 Paris Games. The French women currently sit fifth in the standings as the series prepares to head to its next stop in Singapore later this month. [link]
Women’s Rugby XVs News
International
- Colina Clinic El Salvador secured a dominant 51-12 victory over Sport CRAV to win the Iberian Cup for the first time in club history. After conceding an early try, the Valladolid based side responded with 29 unanswered points before the break and finished the match with a total of eight tries. This victory allows El Salvador to complete a historic quartet of titles including the League, Queen’s Cup, Super Cup, and Iberian Cup. [link]
- In Round 3 of the Celtic Challenge, the Wolfhounds continued their unbeaten streak with a dominant 50-12 win over Edinburgh at Hive Stadium. Glasgow Warriors secured their first victory of the season by defeating Gwalia Lightning 31-19, while the Clovers edged out Brython Thunder 15-12 in a close battle at Cardiff Arms Park. These results shake up the mid-table standings as the Irish sides and Glasgow look to keep pace with the league-leading Lightning. [link]
- Welsh Rugby Union leadership will face questioning from Members of Parliament (MPs) this month regarding radical changes proposed for the professional game. These plans include restructuring regional licenses and have sparked calls for a vote of no confidence from several grassroots clubs. Because these organizational shifts affect the entire union, the outcome of the hearing will have significant long-term implications for the stability and funding of the women’s game across Wales. [link]
- England back row Abi Burton has been elected as the chair of the first Women’s Rugby Board established by the Rugby Players Association. Burton, a World Cup winner with the Red Roses, will lead a leadership group representing players across all PWR clubs. This landmark board aims to give athletes a dedicated voice to address the specific challenges and opportunities within the professional women’s game. [link]
- South Africa will face the New Zealand Black Ferns for the first time ever on South African soil on September 5. This historic Test will be part of a high-profile double-header at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Coming off a best-ever World Cup performance in 2025 where they broke into the top ten world rankings, South Africa looks to build on their momentum against the six-time world champion New Zealand side. [link]
- Scottish Rugby has appointed Ioan Cunningham as Senior Assistant Coach for the Scotland Women’s national team. Working alongside new Head Coach Sione Fukofuka, the former Wales and Fiji coach joins as the program transitions to a new centralized high-performance base in Edinburgh. This hire is part of a broader investment strategy that includes a record number of contracted players and a focus on aligning the national team with Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors in the Celtic Challenge. [link]
Domestic
- The 12th All Japan Women’s Rugby Football Championship semi-finals are set for January 17, featuring a unique co-hosting arrangement with Japan Rugby League One men’s matches. Kanto tournament winners Yokohama TKM will face the Japan University of Economics AMATERUS at Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium, while the MIE PEARLS take on the Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars in Kobe. These matches serve as a critical pathway for athletes aiming for the Olympics and the 2029 Rugby World Cup, with the final scheduled for February 1 at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium. [link]
- Here are the current leaders across all USA Club regions and divisions [link]:
- Northern & Mid-America: The St. Louis Sabres lead Mid-America, while the Colorado Springs Pikes Peaks top the Rocky Mountain division.
- Gulf Coast & South: Life University leads the Red River Premiership, the Utah Vipers hold the Rocky Mountain D1 top spot, and Atlanta 2.0 and Charlotte pace the Carolinas D2.
- Pacific: The All Blues lead NorCal D1, the Sacramento Amazons front NorCal D2, and the Portland Pigs remain undefeated in both Pacific Northwest D2 and D3. In the Southwest, the Landsharks lead D2.
- Atlantic: Philadelphia leads D1, while James River and Phoenixville top the Capital and EPRU D2 divisions. Undefeated leaders in D3 include the Baltimore Flamingos, D.C. Revolution, and the York & Lancaster Thorns.
- In Round 9 of the Iberdrola League, Colina Clinic El Salvador maintained their perfect record with a 50-26 win over Complutense Cisneros. Getxo kept pace in second place by shuting out Silicius Majadahonda 32-0, while Rialta Crat Coruña and Olímpico de Pozuelo secured vital victories to shift the middle of the standings. These results solidify El Salvador’s dominant lead at the top of the table as the first phase of the season nears its conclusion. [link]
- Round 10 of the Energia AIL saw top sides dominate with five bonus point victories. Blackrock College delivered the most lopsided result of the weekend by defeating Cooke 78-8, while league leaders UL Bohemian maintained their momentum with a 36-0 shutout against Ballincollig. Other significant action included Railway Union claiming a 36-7 road win over Galwegians and Wicklow securing a 38-10 victory against Tullow to keep the pressure on the top of the table. [link]
- In Round 7 of the Women’s Serie A Elite, Arredissima Villorba Rugby climbed to the top of the standings after a 28-5 bonus point victory over IVECO Cus Torino. While Valsugana sits in second with a game in hand, Colorno kept pace with the leaders by delivering a dominant 31-0 shutout against Benetton. Other action saw Capitolina secure a narrow 24-21 win over Milano, allowing them to leapfrog their opponents in the table as the league prepares for the second half of the season. [link]
Women’s Rugby Features
- Strength of a woman [link]
- England: meet the next generation hoping to make an impact [link]
- ‘My options are open for next year’: Erin King [link]
- IRFU Launches Creative Jersey Design Competition Ahead Of Historic Aviva Stadium Clash [link]
- Five young HSBC SVNS Series stars looking to make the leap in 2026 [link]
- Aila Ronald: ‘I just want to do my job as well as I can’ [link]
- ‘When do you come out of the cycle?’ – Stacey Flood back for new year but with questions over her future [link]
- Sue Dorrington | Rugby Journal [link]
- Transition to rugby union was tough – Peat [link]
Women’s Rugby Media
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