WRU EGM Triggered and WER Partners with The Women’s Sports Network | WRR 234

The YSC Rugby 10K March is gaining serious steam as the campaign reaches 62% of the goal to unlock an exclusive gear drop from Booshie. We have surged to nearly two thirds of our target, and now the focus is on the next big milestone. We currently need 513 more followers on Instagram to hit that 7,000 mark and trigger the next prize selection. You can help us smash through this finish line by following both @YSCRugby and @BooshiePromo on Instagram or TikTok and tagging their rugby club in the comments of the pinned anniversary post.

Women’s Rugby 7s News

International

• Argentina and South Africa have emerged as the frontrunners in the women’s SVNS 2 series after a dominant showing in Nairobi. Although South Africa defeated Argentina in a close 12-5 encounter during the opening round, the Argentines claimed the top spot on the leaderboard thanks to more convincing victories over the rest of the field. Spain and China remain within striking distance as the competition moves to Montevideo, where the race for a top-four finish and a spot in the SVNS Championship will intensify. [link]

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

• The Welsh Rugby Union is facing a massive internal crisis as community clubs have officially triggered an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). This move is intended to hold a vote of no confidence in chair Richard Collier-Keywood. Led by the Central Glamorgan Rugby Union, the action comes after widespread outrage over proposals to cut the number of Men’s professional Welsh regions from four down to three. Clubs are frustrated by what they describe as chaos and uncertainty under the current leadership. The upcoming vote is set to take place after the Six Nations and could completely reshape the future of the game in Wales. [link]
  • The Welsh Rugby Union has issued a stern warning that the proposed EGM motions could severely damage the sport by stalling a planned £28 million investment. Leadership argues that these proposals threaten financial stability and would reverse critical governance reforms recently supported by over 90% of members. The WRU remains committed to its existing strategic plan and urges clubs not to gamble with the future of the game through short sighted actions. [link]
• Round 8 of the Celtic Challenge was defined by a massive upset as Brython Thunder blanked the league-leading Wolfhounds 14-0 to secure their third straight win. Elsewhere, the Clovers dominated Edinburgh 31-7 to stay on track for a home semi-final while Glasgow Warriors edged out Gwalia Lightning in a 15-12 nail-biter. These results have blown the race for the final playoff spots wide open with only two weeks left in the regular season. [link]
• Georgia put on a clinical display in Sinj, securing a 55-5 victory over Croatia in their latest Women’s Europe Conference match. The Georgian forward pack, led by Anna Rurua and Ani Kapanadze, provided a dominant platform that allowed fly-half Ana Pogosyan to orchestrate a relentless scoring spree. While Croatia managed to break through for a single try, the physical play and pace from the Georgian side dictated the match from start to finish. [link]
• New Zealand Rugby and the Players Association have reached a new two-year collective agreement that significantly boosts investment in the women’s professional game through 2028. The partnership introduces a new contracting model for Super Rugby Aupiki where hub-based players earn $25,000 and campaign players receive $20,000. This deal also expands medical and life insurance cover for those athletes. While the agreement continues the 36.56% revenue split for all professional players, it specifically prioritizes player retention and welfare through a new scholarship fund and increased selection fees for Black Ferns and All Blacks test matches. [link]
• Women’s Six Nations
  • Wales has announced an extended 45-player squad to begin preparations for the 2026 Guinness Six Nations. The group features a strong domestic core with 24 players selected from the Celtic Challenge, alongside several England-based dual-qualified talents like Kendall Waudby and Meg Davey. These players will head to the National Centre of Excellence later this month to compete for a final spot in the tournament opener against Scotland at the Principality Stadium. [link]
  • France has kicked off a new era under head coach François Ratier, naming a 38-player squad for an initial training camp in Blagnac. This selection begins the evaluation process for the 2026 Six Nations, with a heavy emphasis on talent from powerhouse clubs like Stade Toulousain and Stade Bordelais. Coaching staff will use this gathering and the next four league matches to narrow down the roster before a second camp in late March. [link]
• Pacific Four Series
  • Black Ferns Head Coach Whitney Hansen has called up 41 players for a high-stakes training camp in Wellington as New Zealand kicks off a new cycle. This camp is a crucial first look at the roster before the Pacific Four Series in April, featuring a mix of powerhouse veterans like Ayesha Leti-I’iga and fresh faces looking to make their mark. With the focus shifting from team culture to on-field identity, these players are officially competing for a spot in the final squad being named next month. [link]
  • New Head Coach Jack Hanratty recently sat down with the US Rugby Happy Hour podcast to share his clinical vision for this new cycle. Hanratty emphasized the need for a cohesive on field identity and a level up in the kicking game as the Eagles prepare for their first match against the Black Ferns on April 11. He has already assembled a domestic camp in Chula Vista to scout talent from the WER and collegiate ranks, making it clear that the hunt for the next generation of Eagles is officially underway. [link]

Domestic

• Americas
  • Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) has secured a major broadcast deal with The Women’s Sports Network (WSN) to serve as the exclusive home for the 2026 season. Starting May 2, every match will be available to stream live and for free on major platforms like Roku, Tubi, and Amazon Prime Video. This partnership ensures that professional women’s rugby in the U.S. shares a stage with the NWSL and LPGA, making the sport more accessible than ever before. [link]
  • Seventeen elite athletes have been named as nominees for the 2026 MA Sorensen Award, which honors the top women’s collegiate rugby player in the United States. The list features standout talent from across the country, including previous two-time winner Freda Tafuna of Lindenwood and three-time finalist Tiahna Padilla of Harvard. These nominees will eventually be narrowed down to a group of finalists before a winner is celebrated at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle this June. [link]
  • The Urban Rugby Championship (URC) has revealed the seven premier programs selected for its 5th annual tournament this March in Dallas, Texas. Supported by the US Rugby Foundation, the event features teams from major cities including Los Angeles, New York, and Memphis, with additional Texas teams still to be announced. The championship serves as a high-performance stage for athletes from under-resourced communities and coincides with a special reception on March 20 to unveil the foundation’s strategic vision for the 2028 Olympics. [link]
  • Round 9 of the BC Premier division featured a dominant 106-0 shutout by Castaway Wanderers over Abbotsford. Vancouver Thunderbirds also delivered a high-scoring performance, defeating Burnaby Lake 73-10 on the road. Westshore holds the top spot in the standings with a 28-10 win over Meraloma, while the UBCOB Ravens handled Seattle 60-22. [link]
• Europe
  • Llandaff North remains the dominant force in the Welsh Premiership, holding a significant lead with 36 points after seven wins from eight matches. Seven Sisters follows in second place with 31 points, while Bonymaen sits closely behind in third with 29 points. The upcoming March 1 fixtures feature a critical top-of-the-table clash as Bonymaen hosts Llandaff North, while Seven Sisters travels to face Caernarfon. [link]
  • Round 14 of the Energia AIL featured two large blowouts, led by UL Bohemian’s 89-0 shutout of Cooke and Railway Union’s 82-7 victory over Ballincollig. Maddy Kushner and Éabha Nic Dhonnacha each secured hat-tricks for the Robins, while Poppy Garvey crossed the line four times for Railway. Elsewhere, Blackrock College comfortably defeated Wicklow 44-7, Ennis overcame Galwegians 26-17, and Old Belvedere opened the round on Friday with a narrow 12-5 win against Tullow. [link]
  • In Round 10 of AXA Elite 1, Stade Toulousain reinforced their position at the top of the table with a commanding 57-5 victory over Lyon. Blagnac also secured a runaway 55-3 win against Toulon, while ASM Romagnat kept the pressure on the leaders by defeating Stade Villeneuvois 24-10. Elsewhere, Stade Bordelais took down AC Bobigny 25-15, and Montpellier pulled off a narrow 17-10 win over Grenoble to round out the action. Looking ahead to Round 11, the marquee matchup features second-place ASM Romagnat hosting third-place Stade Bordelais in a heavyweight battle that could decide who stays in the hunt for the top seed. [link]
  • Round 12 of the Liga Iberdrola saw El Salvador continue their dominant unbeaten run with a 46-14 victory over CRAT Coruña, led by a standout performance from Binbing Vergara. Getxo kept a firm grip on second place after dispatching Olímpico de Pozuelo 41-12, while Silicius Majadahonda overcame a tough challenge from Complutense Cisneros to win 36-24. The most dramatic result occurred in Barcelona, where Simón Verde Sport Cocos clawed back from a ten point deficit to salvage a 10-10 draw against Sant Cugat in the final minutes. Looking ahead to Matchday 13, the league features a massive top of the table clash as undefeated leaders El Salvador host second place Getxo in a battle for first. [link]
  • Round 12 of PWR saw Saracens reclaim the top spot in the table after a ferocious 45-7 victory over Exeter Chiefs. Bristol Bears pulled off the most impressive turnaround of the weekend, fighting back from a 16-point deficit to edge Loughborough Lightning 24-21 behind a brace from Millie David. Sale Sharks secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season by outlasting Harlequins 15-12 in a muddy defensive battle, while Trailfinders cruised to a 40-19 road win against Leicester Tigers. Looking ahead to Round 13, a top-tier clash looms as Gloucester Hartpury hosts Exeter Chiefs, while league leaders Saracens travel to face Harlequins in a high-stakes London derby. [link]
  • Round 12 of Serie A Elite saw Valsugana consolidate their position at the top with a dominant 55-15 away win over Colorno. This victory secured their lead in the standings with only two regular-season games remaining. Villorba kept the pressure on by overwhelming Neapolis 68-0 on Saturday, while Benetton Treviso locked in the final playoff spot with a hard-fought 22-15 win against CUS Milano. In the weekend’s final contest, Capitolina edged IVECO Cus Torino 22-17, though the visitors salvaged a crucial bonus point that helps their bid to avoid relegation. The playoff framework is now officially set, with Valsugana, Villorba, Colorno, and Benetton confirmed as the four semifinalists. [link]
• Africa
  • Round 3 of the Uganda Premiership featured a defensive stalemate and a pair of lopsided shutouts. The Black Pearls maintained their perfect start to the season by cruising past the She Wolves 44-0, while the Thunderbirds secured a convincing 25-0 victory over EWES. In a much tighter contest, the Avengers and NileRapids fought to a 6-6 draw. Following these results, the Black Pearls lead the standings with 14 points, though the league notes they have already incurred a 4-point deduction due to a Federation decision. [link]
  • Round 2 of the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1 saw the competition’s heavyweights assert their dominance as the Bulls Daisies, DHL Western Province, and Sanlam Boland Dames all secured their second consecutive victories. Western Province overwhelmed the Golden Lions 53-5 in Bellville, highlighted by a brace from the returning Babalwa Latsha, while the Bulls Daisies cruised to a 45-3 win over the Sharks in Durban behind two tries from Zintle Mpupha. Despite receiving a red card, the Boland Dames pulled away from the Border Ladies in the second half to win 45-21, and the Free State Women clawed back to earn their first win of the season by defeating the EP Queens 21-12. [link]
• Asia
  • Nan Fung Group | AIRSIDE Premiership is on a bye [link]
• Oceania
  • The 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki draw has officially been locked in for a June 13 kickoff, aligning the competition with the global women’s rugby calendar for the first time. The season features a massive new “All In” festival round in Pukekohe and an expanded focus on regional venues to bring the game closer to local communities. It all builds toward a Grand Final in late July, followed by a high-stakes Trans-Tasman Champions Final on August 1 where the Aupiki winner will take on Australia’s Super W champion. [link]

Women’s Rugby Features

• Saracens thrash Exeter to go top of PWR table [link]
• Australia Sevens youngster signs three-year NRLW deal [link]
• Latsha’s return set to spark Women’s Super League 1 [link]
• ‘I’d have headaches. I felt sick, emotional’: Inside the lab tackling the head trauma imbalance in women’s rugby [link]
• Haidee Head: ‘It was cool being there and experiencing it all’ [link]
• Skipper Nadine Roos powers SA’s Sevens surge [link]
• Emma Wassell on PWR return: ‘The big thing I struggled with is how the World Cup ended’ [link]
• USA’s Women’s Elite Rugby announces 2026 schedule [link]
• ‘We create world class athletes’: Smith delighted with Lightning player retention [link]
• How Mikaele-Tu’u is sharpening reputation as one of world’s best at Quins [link]
• “We’ve Travelled Abroad, Carrying The Kenyan Flag, And Now The World Is Coming To Us” [link]
• Lisa Neumann: The CrossFit star who got into the Wales team ‘by chance’ [link]
• “Kenya Has Proven It Can Host the World,” Affirms Rugby Africa President as HSBC SVNS 2 Draws Over 15,000 Fans in Nairobi [link]
• USA Rugby elects Julie Uhrman and Tom Kelley to Board of Directors [link]
• ‘Whatever happens, my heart’s very full’: Konkel on retirement and Scotland situation [link]
• USA international makes ‘easy choice’ to stay with Loughborough [link]
• Andover rugby player selected for Women’s GB 7s team [link]
• Allegheny County plans bid to host Rugby World Cup [link]
• A Women’s Sport Trust Report into Visibility (UK)
   [link]
• UAE Rugby coach Philadephia Orlando reflects on growth of women’s rugby in Kenya [link]
• Fumie Reyes Named Skills Coach for Old Glory DC Rugby [link]
• PWR Round 12 talking points: Has mud bath loss dented Harlequins hope? [link]

Women’s Rugby Media

• American Rugby Rising: Jack Hanratty – USA Women’s 15s New Head Coach – US Rugby Happy Hour
• Back The Girls: We’re back! (for real this time)
• Banana and Bear’s Rugby Pod: Flying Props
• Rugby Rodeo: Bikini Photoshoots, Six Nations & Valentines Plans