SVNS 2 Promotion for South Africa & Argentina and Wales Players Threaten Strike | WRR 230

Women’s Rugby 7s News

International

• South Africa secured the inaugural HSBC SVNS 3 title in Dubai, after completing an unbeaten campaign with a 12 to 5 victory over Argentina in the final. Patience Mokone scored the decisive late try to seal the win and confirm the Springbok’s promotion to the HSBC SVNS 2 series. Argentina also moves up to the next tier of the global sevens competition, while Czechia claimed third place by defeating Poland 24 to 14. [link]
• Fijiana successfully defended their crown in the Shangri-La Na Iri women’s division at the McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast 7s. Fiji secured a 22 to 5 victory over China 1 in the final, leading 10 to 0 at the half before pulling away with two late scores. This dominant performance on home soil reaffirms Fiji’s strength in the regional sevens circuit as they look toward international competition later this season. [link]
  • Organizers used the event to spark a global conversation by returning to a 24-team division, signaling a direct push back against World Rugby’s new elite 8-team SVNS format. By embracing the traditional large-scale structure, officials aimed to return to the “essence of the game” and the festival-style competition that many feel the recent global changes have compromised. [link]
• Australia heads into the Singapore SVNS on January 30 to 31 as the team to beat after defeating New Zealand 26 to 12 in the Cape Town final. This third round of the series features a condensed eight team format where Australia headlines Pool A alongside the USA, Fiji, and a rising Japan squad. In Pool B, New Zealand looks to reclaim the top spot but must first navigate a physical group including France, Canada, and Great Britain. For teams like Fiji and Great Britain currently sitting at the bottom of the standings, this tournament is a critical opportunity to avoid a relegation crisis. [link]
• Updated data from our global ball size survey shows an overwhelming 86% of nearly 500 respondents want the ball size to remain exactly as it is. Furthermore, 66% of the community believes the ball should remain universal across all genders and ages, standing in stark contrast to the size 4.5 ball trial currently underway in the SVNS series. We continue to call for more player input to ensure the community has a voice before any permanent changes are made to the game’s fundamentals [link]

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

• Round 5 of the Celtic Challenge brought a new leader to the summit of the table as the competition reached its high-octane midway point. While the Wolfhounds extended their perfect unbeaten run with a 52 to 26 win over Glasgow, it was Gwalia Lightning who surged into the top spot by Saturday night following their dominant 43 to 7 victory against Edinburgh. The Wolfhounds reclaimed their #1 position on Sunday to finish the weekend on top, while the Clovers solidified their third-place standing by defeating Brython Thunder 29 to 12. These results set the stage for a dramatic second half of the season and a massive top-of-the-table clash next week as the two leading sides go head-to-head. [link]
• Legendary referee Sara Cox officially announced her retirement from the international stage. The world’s first professional female referee concluded her career with an unmatched 51 tests, reaching the half-century milestone during the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. While she is hanging up her international boots, Cox will continue to referee in domestic leagues and remains a pioneering figure for match officials across the globe. [link]
• WRU leadership faced a challenging two-hour session with the Welsh Affairs Committee on Wednesday. While Chair Richard Collier-Keywood and CEO Abi Tierney focused on financial recovery, the committee’s subsequent report highlighted a deep rift between the governing body and the rugby community. [link]
  • The situation has reached a breaking point as the Welsh Rugby Players’ Association (WRPA) has issued a formal ultimatum to the WRU. Players have set a hard deadline of February 6, 2026, for the union to provide “meaningful clarity” on the future of the professional game. This deadline is strategically set just 24 hours before Wales’ Six Nations opener against England at Twickenham, putting immense pressure on the governing body to prevent a potential walkout or strike. [link]
• The Southeast Asian Rugby Federation officially announced the inaugural SEARF Women’s 15s Championship, scheduled for February 1 to February 7, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur. This landmark event features host Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines in a round-robin format designed to strengthen talent development across the region. [link]
• The Springbok Women are set to host the USA Eagles for a historic two-Test series this July, marking the first time the two sides have met on South African soil. The matches will take place as double-headers alongside the men’s Nations Championship on July 4 at Ellis Park and July 11 at Loftus Versfeld. Ranked 10th globally after their 2025 World Cup quarter-final run, South Africa aims to use these fixtures against the 8th-ranked Eagles to build momentum for the new World Cup cycle. [link]
• The 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations kicks off on April 11 with England hosting Ireland at Allianz Stadium, where over 50,000 tickets have already been sold. This year’s Championship features a major move to national stadiums, including Scotland playing their first standalone fixture at Murrayfield and Ireland finishing the tournament at Aviva Stadium. Additionally, the new Six Nations Women’s U21 Series launches this April to bridge the gap to the elite level, featuring a three match format designed to mirror the senior international schedule. [link]
  • While many have applauded the expansion to a U21 Series, critics are questioning the continued exclusion of Spain, the Netherlands, and other European nations. Including these sides would offer a perfect opportunity to grow the tournament and broaden the competitive landscape across the continent. This shift from the previous U20 festival format marks a step forward, but expanding the field remains a key goal for those wanting a more inclusive European pathway. [link]
• Speaking of European rugby, the game is undergoing a major awakening beyond the traditional powerhouses. In the newly formed European Women’s Conference division, Austria celebrated a successful debut with a 20 to 7 victory over Czechia, while Georgia dominated Romania 43 to 0 in late 2025. Additionally, Denmark marked its return to international 15s after a 20 year hiatus with a 32 to 6 win over Norway, signaling a shift as more unions move beyond sevens to develop full 15s programs. [link]
• Rugby fans are still waiting for an official Pacific Four schedule as of late January, even though a few Unions have confirmed some of their hosting duties. Alice Soper argues that the tournament requires a centralized organizing body like SANZAAR to avoid these logistical delays. She suggests that a collective “CANU” entity would provide the professional scheduling and consistent promotion necessary to transform the series into a strategic global asset. [link]

Domestic

• The 12th All Japan Women’s Rugby Football Championship final is set for February 1, at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, featuring an all-Kanto rematch between Yokohama TKM and the Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars. Yokohama TKM reached the final after a dominant 64 to 19 semi-final victory over JUE AMATERUS on January 17. Meanwhile, the Artemi-Stars secured their spot with a massive 36 to 17 upset over the previously undefeated MIE PEARLS. Yokohama previously defeated the Artemi-Stars 36 to 19 in December, but the challengers enter this title match with significant momentum after toppling the top-seeded Pearls. [link]
• USA Club action is currently heating up in the Gulf Coast and Pacific regions. The SHARCs currently lead the Red River Premiership standings, while Florida has officially kicked off league play. Over in the Pacific, teams in the SoCal and Southwest divisions have also started their competitive campaigns for the new year. [link]
• Railway Union surged into third place this weekend following a massive 73–0 shut out of Cooke. Caitlin Kelly notched a hat trick in the 13-try performance while Blackrock overcame a stubborn Ennis side with 26 unanswered second half points to secure a 38–12 win while Galwegians pulled off a gritty 15–10 comeback victory over Old Belvedere behind the boot of Nicole Fowley. [link]
• Round 8 of the AXA Elite 1 saw the league’s top powerhouses solidify their status while the race for the middle of the table tightened. Stade Toulousain continues to look untouchable at the top, securing a dominant 45–7 victory over Montpellier Herault. Close behind, ASM Romagnat kept pace with their own clinical performance, defeating AC Bobigny 36–5 on the road to remain level with Toulouse at 38 points. [link]
• Round 9 of Serie A Elite saw a significant shift at the top of the table as Valsugana leapfrogged Villorba to reclaim first place. While storms forced the postponement of the highly anticipated match between Villorba and Benetton Treviso, the rest of the league provided high-scoring action and crucial movement in the standings. [link]
• Uganda has officially released the 2026 fixtures for the Women’s Premiership, confirming a 19 week home and away format. Following a decision to skip relegation after the 2025 season, the top tier league will feature the same lineup of clubs as last year. Defending champions Black Pearls and rivals Nile Rapids are among the favorites to lead the table as the league kicks off. [link]
• While full details on the revamped South Africa women’s competition are still pending, a recent fixtures update confirms the league is rebranding as the Pick ‘n Pay Women’s Super League 1. The move introduces a Tier 1 partner as the title sponsor, signaling a major commercial boost for the series. The kick-off of this new revamped league is slated for mid-2026. [link]

Women’s Rugby Features

• Wallaroos Test hopefuls to join national program [link]
• “I am proud that I was brave enough to take the leap to play in France” says McIntyre after Montpellier move sees Holly back in wider Scotland squad [link]
• ‘The Same Foundation And Values Are Still There’ – Allen On UL Bohs’ Drive For Further Success [link]
• Victoria’s De Goede Named Sport BC Awards Finalist [link]
• Remember the name: ‘Bully’ Enyi out to take Wallaroos chance [link]
• Biogen joins SA Rugby partner family [link]
• Lilli Ives Campion: ‘I’ve been trying to put less pressure on myself’ [link]
• KEEN COOPER BRINGS BRAVEHEART SPIRIT TO ISUZU BULLS DAISIES [link]
• Poppy Leitch: The coach with an ‘insane work ethic’ setting the next generation alight [link]
• Princess of Wales hosts World Cup winners England [link]
• Sky Phimister: ‘All I can do is keep putting in performances for Glasgow’ [link]
• Analysis: What’s happened in the 2025/26 PWR season so far? [link]
• Erin King ‘so honoured’ to be named new Ireland women’s rugby captain [link]
• Players named ahead of first Scotland Women camp of 2026 [link]
• Gwen Crabb on suffering with endometriosis: ‘I was lucky not to get yellow cards, I couldn’t think straight’ [link]
• Murphy: We’re Playing With Aviva In Back Of Our Minds [link]
• The rugby mum looking to get others to play [link]
• Millie David on why Bristol’s winless run is building her as a player [link]
• Bemand Brings Together Ireland Squad For Training Camp [link]
• Red Roses return for first rugby camp of 2026 [link]
• Queensland Reds hooker Roni Setu brings front-row firepower to HKFC Natixis Ice Squad [link]

Women’s Rugby Media

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