Red Roses Rule W6N, Tunisia Promoted, & Sevens Champions Crowned | WRR 246

We’re is still celebrating 20 years, and the giveaways continue! Next up on our journey is chasing the 8,000-follower mark. To be eligible for the next individual drawing, make sure you are following both @YSCRugby and @BooshiePromo on Instagram AND have commented on the pinned Anniversary post.

Want to hook your team up, too? You can enter yourself into the individual milestone drawings and register your team for the massive Grand Prize giveaway at the end of the celebration by commenting your club’s name on our pinned Anniversary post. It has been an incredible 20 year journey so far and we are not slowing down!

Women’s Rugby 7s News

International

• The inaugural CASA 7s Women’s Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, wrapped up with Sri Lanka claiming the gold medal after a dominant 27 to 0 shutout against Kazakhstan in the cup final. Kazakhstan took home the silver medal as the tournament runners-up, while the host nation, Uzbekistan, secured the bronze medal by edging out India 24 to 14 in a closely contested third-place playoff. [link]
• The Brasil Sevens 2026 tournament wrapped up at the Nicolau Alayon Stadium in São Paulo with Melina capturing their fifth national crown to become the most successful women’s franchise in the history of the competition. The Cuiabá-based powerhouse navigated a challenging knockout bracket, edging out hosts Poli 19 to 12 in a thrilling semifinal before rallying from behind to defeat Rio de Janeiro’s El-Shaddai 12 to 5 in a dramatic cup final sealed by a last-minute try from Claudinha Beltran. By pushing the eventual champions to the absolute limit in the physical title match, El-Shaddai secured a well-deserved second-place finish to take home the silver medal. Meanwhile, Poli bounced back from their semifinal heartbreak to lock down the bronze medal with a 19 to 7 victory over Pasteur in a local São Paulo derby, rounding out the national Bolsa-Atleta honors. [link]
• In the second stop of the LIT Super Sevens Series, defending 2025 series champions Shogun got right back to their winning ways by capturing the Elite title at the Oxford 7s. They shook up the early standings by taking down the current series leaders, the Hammerheads, who had previously won the opening leg at the Manor 7s. The elite circuit will now take a quick mid-season break before the action fires right back up on June 13 for the third leg at the Hertford 7s. [link]
• The HSBC SVNS World Championship Series is heading to Spain for the Valladolid leg on May 29 to 31, 2026, where the battle for the overall title and survival will reach a boiling point. Following the first World Championship stop in Hong Kong where New Zealand edged out Australia to claim their sixth victory of the season, the elite four-team hierarchy of the Black Ferns, Australia, the USA, and France will look to assert their dominance at the top of the pools. Meanwhile, the mid-table and lower-tier squads face an intense race for survival, as combined points across the final stops will determine the top eight seeds for next season. It gives promoted teams like Spain, who finished a stellar eighth in Hong Kong, a massive opportunity to leverage their home crowd and escape the looming threat of relegation. [link]
• The global rugby landscape is set for a major shakeup with the official unveiling of Ultimate Sevens, a brand-new professional championship launching in August 2026. Backed by BIA Sports Group, the investment group behind Sunderland AFC and the World Supercross Championship, the innovative tournament will feature six franchises, each boasting a men’s and women’s side, competing across four European cities. Designed to elevate the sport’s entertainment value, the championship will break from traditional weekend structures by introducing a modernized, weeknight knockout format played on Thursday nights, featuring shortened 10-minute matches tailored for a fast-paced, broadcast-friendly fan experience. [link]

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

• W6N
  • England secured their eighth consecutive Guinness Women’s Six Nations title and a historic fifth successive Grand Slam by weathering a fierce French challenge in Bordeaux. The Red Roses relied on lethal set-piece execution, a brilliant two-try performance from Ellie Kildunne, and the incredibly accurate boot of Zoe Harrison to comfortably hold Les Bleues at arm’s length for a clinical 43 to 28 victory. By silencing a hostile, record-breaking French crowd, the reigning world champions pushed their astonishing, world-record winning streak to 38 consecutive Test matches, ensuring they successfully continue to defend the Utrecht Shield, a lineal world title they have held firmly in their grasp since October 12, 2024. [link]
  • Ireland signed off their campaign in breathtaking style, unleashing a devastating seven-try first-half blitz led by an inspired Aoife Wafer to dismantle Scotland 54 to 5 in Dublin. Aside from tournament points, the emotional focal point of the afternoon was the inaugural presentation of the Siobhan Cattigan Trophy, a brand new silverware established by both unions to honor the memory and lasting legacy of the late Scottish loose forward. The home side lifted the trophy in front of an incredible, record-breaking standalone crowd of 31,294 fans at the Aviva Stadium, providing a beautiful and fitting backdrop for a deeply meaningful milestone in the women’s game. [link]
  • Italy condemned Wales to a second consecutive tournament whitewash by staging a spectacular second-half surge at Cardiff Arms Park to completely turn the match on its head. Trailing at the interval after a frantic, seesaw first half, the Azzurre emerged from the tunnel with total physical dominance to run in four unanswered second-half scores. Exploiting Welsh handling errors and a crumbling lineout, Italy ruthlessly powered away for a commanding 43 to 24 bonus-point victory, leaving the hosts anchored to the bottom of the table. [link]
• Africa Cup
  • Divisions 1
    • The 2026 Rugby Africa Cup Division 1 concluded in Tunis with the host nation putting on an absolute masterclass to secure their spot on the big stage. Tunisia completely dominated the three team tournament, opening with a massive 85 to 0 shutout against Ivory Coast before sealing their perfect run by defeating Morocco 54 to 0 in the final match. With two flawless victories and zero points allowed all week, the tournament hosts comfortably finished at the top of the standings to earn their well deserved promotion to the 2027 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup. [link]
      • The current landscape of the tournament has sparked urgent concerns from advocates regarding Nigeria’s fading presence in continental women’s rugby. Despite Nigeria’s historic beginnings in the sport dating back to 2003 and a promising showing in the inaugural 2009 regional tournament, the national union has failed to maintain its momentum in mainstream 15s competition, heavily contrasting the global success of their counterparts. Prominent advocates, including foundational coach Obong Ntiense Williams, are calling for immediate institutional reform from the National Sports Commission to safeguard the domestic pipeline, warning that the continuous exclusion of rugby and other Olympic team sports from the prestigious National Sports Festival severely undermines talent development and long-term athletic structure across the country. [link]
  • Now that Division 1 has concluded, all eyes turn to the 2026 Rugby Africa W Cup with the four-team Performance Division descending upon Nairobi, Kenya from May 23 to 31, 2026. The action will unfold at the iconic RFUEA Grounds, where the reigning champions, South Africa arrive with a target on their backs after dominating every edition of the tournament since its 2019 inception. Looking to dethrone the holders are the host Kenya Lionesses, who have been building momentum in residential training camps and will bank on a vocal home crowd to fuel their campaign. Rounding out the competitive group are a dangerous Madagascar squad, known for their rapid, wide-open tempo, and a newly promoted Uganda side eager to make a major statement in the top tier after winning the Division 1 title last year. [link]
• RAN Inter-Regional
  • The 2026 RAN XVs Inter-Regional Tournament kicked off with an intense battle as Trinidad and Tobago hosted Jamaica for the opening match. True to their reputation as the highest ranked team in the competition, the home squad controlled the pace of the game from the whistle. Despite a hard-fought effort from Jamaica to spark an upset, Trinidad and Tobago proved too strong and locked down a decisive 27 to 13 victory to start their tournament campaign on top. [link]
    • Now all eyes are firmly locked on Mexico as they prepare to launch their own highly anticipated RAN campaign. Las Serpientes enter the tournament carrying a massive reputation as the reigning regional champions, and they will be looking to aggressively assert their dominance right from the opening whistle. Mexico’s first test comes this weekend against a wounded Jamaica squad, but the true blockbuster matchup on the schedule is locked in for June 6. That final round showdown will see Mexico collide with Trinidad and Tobago in what is already shaping up to be the definitive championship-deciding match of the tournament.
• Look Ahead
  • The upcoming weekend features a continuing lineup of crucial tournament fixtures and championship silverware on the line across the globe. Heavy stakes take center stage in the Africa Cup on Saturday, May 23, with Madagascar challenging South Africa and Kenya hosting Uganda in highly anticipated regional clashes. That same day, the RAN 15s Inter-Regional Tournament continues as Mexico faces off against Jamaica, while the South American circuit kicks off multiple days of fast-paced action at the SAR 7s tournament. Finally, the weekend wraps up on Sunday, May 24, in Spain, where Colina Clínic El Salvador and Silicius Majadahonda will battle it out at Pepe Rojo to crown the 2026 Liga Iberdrola champion. [link]
    • While official details regarding pools, schedules, and specific venue locations for the SAR 7s have not been released yet, this late-May window is traditionally when Sudamérica Rugby gathers the region’s top developmental sevens programs. The tournament typically features rising regional powers like Colombia, Paraguay, and Argentina’s secondary development squads competing for continental rankings and valuable international game time. [link]
• Despite the federal government’s massive announcement of a $755 million investment into the Canadian sport system, leaders and athletes across National Sport Organizations are taking a cautious approach as they await clarity on how the funds will actually be distributed. The financial strain remains an immediate hurdle, highlighted by Cycling Canada recently canceling its women’s team pursuit program for the world championships due to a lack of funds and Rugby Canada still preparing a crowdfunding campaign for the men’s upcoming World Cup. Canadian rugby star Olivia Apps, who previously had to crowdfund more than $1 million with her team to secure a World Cup silver medal, expressed her deep frustration with the ongoing resource gaps, hoping that this federal injection will finally put an end to elite athletes relying on public donations to compete on the world stage. [link]
• S4C has secured the exclusive broadcast rights for a blockbuster international double-header at Twickenham on Friday, June 27, 2026, featuring the Welsh men’s and women’s national teams taking on the Barbarians. The midday showcase kicks off with the men at 2:00 PM followed by the women at 5:00 PM, with the free-to-air Welsh broadcaster providing both Welsh and English language commentary across all its digital and television platforms. Led by presenter Sarra Elgan and a star-studded commentary team including Ken Owens, Elinor Snowsill, and Siwan Lillicrap, the event promises to bring a festive summer celebration of traditional, open rugby directly to fans across the UK. [link]
• The 2026 WXV Global Series is rolling out a completely transformed structure, shifting away from centralized regional hubs to a decentralized, negotiated home-and-away touring model for the top twelve nations. Because World Rugby has left the organization of these elite fixtures entirely up to the individual unions rather than managing it centrally, trying to track the upcoming schedule has become a bit hit-or-miss as information drops in a highly fragmented, fluid manner. The competition will feature a geographic split, kicking off across Europe in September before moving to the Southern Hemisphere in October, while the second-tier Challenger division heads to Hong Kong for triple-header matchdays at the brand-new Kai Tak Sports Park. Despite the sporadic announcements, several marquee matchups are officially locked into our master tracker, including a highly anticipated 2025 World Cup final rematch between England and New Zealand at Sandy Park, alongside a packed Scotland home series against Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. [link]
• Six Nations Rugby has announced a monumental scheduling shift for the 2027 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, confirming that every single round of the tournament will take place on a Saturday. Running from April 10 to May 15, 2027, this new “Super Saturday” format will deliver five consecutive weekends of back-to-back triple-header action to give fans a consistent weekly takeover experience. The decision follows a historic, record-shattering 2026 campaign that saw a 98.5% increase in stadium attendance, a massive broadcast viewership of 12.85 million, and an all-time tournament record of 77,120 fans at Allianz Stadium for England versus Ireland. Additionally, the 2027 season will bring back the Six Nations U21 Women’s Series in tandem with the senior tournament, featuring double-header matchdays in three host cities to showcase the next generation of international stars. [link]

Domestic

• Americas
  • Round 3 of the WER season completely shook up the standings as Denver Onyx continued their hot streak, rolling past the Boston Banshees 52 to 19 on the road to secure their second straight victory. Meanwhile, the New York Exiles put on a spectacular performance at Memorial Field to claim their first win of the season, putting on an offensive show to defeat the Chicago Tempest 40 to 19. Finally, TC Gemini showed their flair by bouncing back in style at TCO Stadium, shutting down the Bay Breakers  42 to 10. By halting the league leaders in their tracks, TC Gemini officially climbs to the top of the table, creating total chaos in the standings as teams head into the first bye week. [link]
  • The 2026 USA Club 15s National Championships concluded in Lemont, Illinois, with five programs claiming national titles after an intense weekend of rugby. On the women’s side, Life University put on an absolute clinic in the Women’s Division I final, capturing their first ever club national title with a dominant 69 to 12 victory over the defending champion Utah Vipers. Meanwhile, the Women’s Division II final saw Life West reclaim their spot at the top of the podium, grabbing their fourth title overall between the divisions, and securing a hard-fought 24 to 12 win over the Tampa Bay Krewe to win the division for the first time since 2016.[link]
    • This Club Division 1 victory officially secures an extraordinary treble for Life University, marking their third major national championship this year following their collegiate titles in both the CRAA Division 1 XVs and Premier 7s. Their entry into the club circuit came after CRAA league restructures left the Running Eagles feeling that the collegiate field no longer provided adequate competition to challenge their elite program.
• Europe
  • The Liga Iberdrola final is officially set after Colina Clínic El Salvador and Silicius Club Rugby Majadahonda punched their tickets with impressive semifinal victories. El Salvador completely dismantled Rialta CRAT Coruña in a dominant 71 to 7 blowout at Pepe Rojo, exploding for eleven total scores after overcoming an early deficit. Meanwhile, defending champions Majadahonda weathered a much more physical and tightly contested battle on the road at Fadura, riding a strong first half performance to defeat Getxo 21 to 12. These two powerhouses will now clash for the prestigious national title on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at the Campo de Rugby Pepe Rojo in Valladolid. [link]
  • The PWR and the Rugby Players Association (RPA) have secured a major boost for the domestic game through a comprehensive new partnership with Mitsubishi Electric Europe. Building on the momentum of the Parallel Potential platform launched during the 2025 World Cup, the collaboration will heavily invest in the RPA’s Thrive program, which focuses on personal development and career transition support for elite female athletes navigating dual-career pathways. Along with providing corporate toolkits to help businesses integrate active sports stars into the workplace, Mitsubishi Electric steps in as an official sponsor of the PWR league, securing prominent matchday visibility while using the platform to promote sustainable, low-carbon property solutions to the wider rugby community. [link]
• Oceania
• Africa
• Asia

Women’s Rugby Features

• Our performance must match the occasion – Fogarty [link]
• NSW Waratahs Women Connect with Future Fijian Rugby Stars Ahead of Drua Pre-Season Match [link]
• First start of campaign for Sam Monaghan in Ireland’s Aviva showpiece [link]
• England hope part-time dentist Liz Crake adds bite to their battle in Bordeaux [link]
• ‘Full circle’ for Wafer in Scotland game at Aviva [link]
• Doctors had to remove rugby star Cass Bargell’s colon. Now the LA Olympics are in her sights [link]
• Black Ferns star Ruahei Demant discovers rugby’s harsh realities in England [link]
• AVIVA AWAITS Linda Djougang pays tribute to ‘incredible’ journey Irish women’s rugby has gone on as Aviva Stadium showcase looms [link]
• Lionesses pitch camp at Kasarani as preps for Rugby Africa Women’s Cup intensify [link]
• New Host City and Expanded Format for 2027 Collegiate Rugby All Stars [link]
• Aviva Partners With Period Care Company Riley [link]
• Béibhinn Parsons: ‘A big stadium can magnify your performance’ [link]
• Sofia Stefan and Italy wary of the threat posed by ‘reborn’ Wales [link]
• How It All Began: The first-ever Women’s International Rugby Test Match and the legacy of the Utrecht Shield [link]
• Celtic Challenge helps John and Prothero achieve their dreams [link]
• Ireland And Scotland To Contest Siobhan Cattigan Trophy [link]
• Red Roses’ dominance is not ruining women’s game — it’s making it better [link]
• Enjoying rugby has made me play better – Moloney-MacDonald [link]
• Scotland centre Smith to stay with Bristol Bears [link]
• Sacrilege to science: Why World Rugby is shrinking the rugby ball [link]
• When it’s not your year [link]
• Connie Powell: From detention to Red Roses [link]
• Valeria Fedrighi announces her retirement: “The match against Wales will be the last of my career.” [link]
• England Red Roses are great for rugby, but are they bad for business? [link]
• Morgane Bourgeois’ Women’s Six Nations notebook: Chapter 5 [link]
• Bears announce retention of ‘one of the best players in the world’ [link]
• Former Reds star to face old side as Brumbies name side for trial [link]
• Grace Adhiambo Champions Investment in African Women’s Rugby [link]
• Ruby Tui’s return to international rugby has been confirmed [link]
• Tatyana Heard discusses hair equity, wellness and representation in women’s rugby [link]
• Brighton lawyer who made women’s rugby history champions next generation [link]
• 45-Test Wallaroos star Eva Karpani re-signs with Queensland Reds [link]
• Women do not need smaller rugby balls – you would not get ‘help’ in the men’s game [link]
• Keevy Fitzpatrick: ‘Until I got there it was hard to see myself being there’ [link]
• Italy lock that shares unique Castrogiovanni stat aims to end career on ‘high note’ [link]
• Does England’s defence put winning streak at risk? [link]
• Anna McGann: ‘I didn’t know if rugby was going to be it for me’ [link]
• Why women’s rugby in Australia is entering its most important era yet [link]
• Lionesses inspiring Kenyan girls to embrace rugby [link]
• How Elaine Vassie survived a crash with an Army Land Rover [link]
• Blues captain Maia Roos embracing expectations as Super Rugby Aupiki continues to grow [link]
• Five ‘Super Saturdays’ locked in for 2027 Women’s Six Nations [link]
• McDonald’s Fiji Signs On As Drua Women’s Major Sponsor [link]
• Kazakhstan women’s rugby team claims silver at Asian Championships in Almaty [link]
• Scotland Women WXV Global Series and 2027 Guinness Six Nations Fixtures confirmed [link]

Women’s Rugby Media

• BBC Sport: Bevan backs Welsh team in ‘best of the best’ PWR
• The Amateur Rugby Podcast: Rugby’s got a place for everybody – Suzy Rook – #193
• Mudder Rucker: What’s Up with Wales? Huw Knows…
• Full Credit: The Hard Reset at Chiefs Manawa
• The Good, The Scaz & The Rugby: The Ball Size Debate & a Grand Slam Decider
• Banana and Bear’s Rugby Pod: “Who’s Horse is That?”
• The Rugby Rant: Episode 234
• Squidge Rugby:
  • So how did the Red Roses overcome Italy? | Women’s Six Nations 2026
  • So how did Ireland waltz over Wales? | Women’s Six Nations 2026
  • So how did the Red Roses overcome Italy? | Women’s Six Nations 2026
  • So how did France run riot against Scotland? | Women’s Six Nations 2026
• Women’s Rugby Treehouse: So long, Sochat
• Her Side of the Ruck: Title Decider
• Women’s Rugby Podcast: From Underage Success to the Big Stage