Australia Snatches Spain SVNS & the Springboks Rule the Africa Cup | WRR 248

We’re 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

• At the HSBC SVNS in Valladolid, a shorthanded Australian women’s team overcame a pool phase loss and the late absence of playmakers Maddison and Levi Tia Hinds to capture their first title since Dubai with a 27-14 victory over the United States. Player-of-the-final Heidi Dennis stepped up with two crucial first-half tries, while Faith Nathan added a brace to build an early 17-point lead that the American side, despite second-half scores from Ariana Ramsey and Erica Coulibaly, could not overcome. The victory leapfrogged Australia over New Zealand at the top of the overall standings after the Australians eliminated their rivals 28-26 in a thrilling semi-final, forcing the Black Ferns Sevens to settle for third place with a 50-14 win over Canada. [link]
• Look Ahead
  • The sevens circuit also commands attention from June 5 to 7, delivering both world-championship drama and critical continental promotion battles. The premier spotlight shines on France, where the Stade Atlantique hosts the third and final leg of the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Bordeaux. Following the official draw, the newly crowned Australian squad headlines Pool B alongside Japan, Fiji, and Brazil. The runner-up United States anchors Pool C against Canada, Spain, and Great Britain, while a stacked Pool A sees powerhouse New Zealand take on tournament hosts France, South Africa, and Argentina, with all action streaming on RugbyPass TV. [link]
  • Simultaneously, the European developmental circuit gets underway with the opening leg of the Makarska 7s Women’s Trophy Series in Croatia. Featuring a 12-team field including Italy, Ukraine, and the hosts, this three-day tournament represents the start of a two-leg series where the top two performing nations earn promotion to the 2027 Championship Series, streaming live via Rugby Europe TV. [link]

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

• South Africa claimed their fifth consecutive Africa Cup title by defeating hosts Kenya 35-20 in a competitive final match. Despite Kenya holding an 8-7 lead at halftime, the Springbok Women responded in the second half with crucial tries from Naima Hlatshwayo, Logan Welman, Jakkie Cilliers, and Nobuhle Mjwara to secure the championship. Earlier in the tournament, Uganda avoided relegation in the premier division by defeating Madagascar 46-12, a result that officially demoted the Lady Makis to Division One for next season. [link]
  • With the 2026 promotion and relegation settled, the 2027 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup Premier division will feature South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, and the newly promoted Tunisia, who dominated Division 1 with blowout wins over Ivory Coast and Morocco. Meanwhile, the 2027 Division 1 tournament will see the relegated Madagascar join Morocco and Ivory Coast as they battle to reclaim their spot in the top tier.
• The Brazilian Yaras, kicked off their 2026 international season with a two-game friendly sweep against Colombia’s Tucanes. Brazil took the opening match in São José dos Campos with a 32-20 victory, fueled by six different try-scorers showcasing the squad’s physical superiority and backline depth. They completed the series sweep a few days later in São Paulo, grinding out a 19-10 win behind a dominant three-try first half from Monalisa Freitas, Laryssa Barbosa, and Thalita Costa. New head coach Guilherme Coghetto used the friendly series to successfully integrate international talent and establish the team’s tactical rhythm ahead of an August fixture against the United States and the WXV world league in September. [link]
• Look Ahead
  • Down Under, Australia’s newly rescheduled Super W competition gets underway on June 5, launching a five-round winter calendar on Stan Sport with a massive opening-night rematch between the defending champion New South Wales Waratahs and the Fijiana Drua. Meanwhile, the international stage takes over on June 6 as the RAN Inter-Regional Tournament reaches its conclusion. Streaming live on the Rugby Americas North YouTube channel, the tournament wraps up with a tantalizing finale as defending champions Mexico take on historical regional powerhouse Trinidad & Tobago in a battle for final tournament standings and crucial World Rugby ranking points.[link]
• Scottish Rugby has introduced a new, unified performance and pathway system for its women’s programme to develop world-class talent and align the sport from the community level to the international stage. Developed following a comprehensive review, the system focuses on building strong club and school foundations, accelerating player development, and creating fluid entry points across all levels. Key structural updates include a three-phase National Talent Pathway for players under 16 through under 18, alongside a new National Academy Programme for athletes aged 18 to 23 managed by newly appointed Claire Cruikshank. These developmental tiers will feed into the pro-level Celtic Challenge teams, Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors, as well as the National Central Programme for contracted test players. Supported by Vodafone, this pathway overhaul is strategically timed early in the World Cup cycle to maximize Scotland’s competitiveness ahead of the WXV Global Series and the 2029 and 2033 Rugby World Cups. [link]

Domestic

• Americas
  • Round 4 of WER action featured a weekend of high-scoring, dominant performances that kept the status quo firmly in place. TC Gemini kicked off the slate at TCO Stadium on May 30 with a convincing 50-15 victory over the visiting Boston Banshees, a crucial bonus-point win that allows them to hold onto the top spot in the standings for two weeks running. On May 31, the Denver Onyx kept their momentum rolling with a powerful 53-19 road win against the New York Exiles at Memorial Field, while the Bay Breakers put on an offensive clinic at Heart Health Park by routing the Chicago Tempest 66-17 to keep heavy pressure on the league leaders. [link]
• Europe
  • PWR
    • Penultimate round action in the PWR delivered a monumental upset as fourth-placed Trailfinders Women shattered Gloucester-Hartpury’s 14-match unbeaten streak with a thrilling 41-39 victory, officially locking in their playoff position behind a player-of-the-match performance from Meg Jones. Elsewhere, Exeter Chiefs stayed firmly in control of third place by overwhelming the Bristol Bears 57-5 with a nine-try display, while Harlequins dominated the first half to secure a high-scoring 50-29 victory over the winless Leicester Tigers. Second-placed Saracens also laid down a massive marker for the postseason as Sydney Gregson crossed for five tries in a dominant 62-24 routing of Loughborough Lightning. With only one regular-season round remaining on June 7, the single-elimination semifinals are already set for June 14, serving as the final barrier before the league champions are crowned in the grand final at Twickenham Stoop on June 28, 2026. [link]
    • Rugby Australia has announced a strategic collaboration with the PWR that will allow a select group of Wallaroos players to align with English clubs during the Australian off-season for the 2026/2027 calendar. This partnership aims to expose players to elite competition ahead of Australia hosting the 2029 Rugby World Cup, without disrupting domestic commitments. Reigning Wallaroos Player of the Year Tabua Tuinakauvadra will lead the transition by joining the Leicester Tigers through April 2027, before returning home for the Pacific Four series and the Super Rugby Women’s season. Additional player alignments will be announced in the coming months as the national team navigates a busy ten-Test schedule in 2026, which concludes with the WXV Global Series and autumn fixtures against Scotland in October. [link]
    • Bristol Bears Women and Loughborough Lightning have both confirmed that 11 players will leave their respective clubs at the conclusion of the 2025/26 season. For the Bristol Bears, the changing international landscape has led a significant contingent of Scottish and Welsh players, including Alisha Joyce, Jasmine Joyce, and Emma Orr, to return home to accept central union contracts, while back Meg Varley has announced her retirement due to injury. Meanwhile, Loughborough Lightning will honor their departing group after their final match against Saracens, a list that features Scotland prop Christine Belisle, prolific winger Bo Westcombe-Evans, and USA hooker Paige Stathopoulos. While these exits represent significant shifts for both squads, Lightning Head Coach Nathan Smith emphasized that the club is actively transitioning to multi-year contracts to secure a more stable competitive foundation for the 2026/27 campaign. [Loughborough] | [Bristol]
  • AXA Elite 1
    • The heavy hitters put on a clinic in Round 16 of the AXA Élite 1 championship, ruthlessly locking down their spots at the top of the table. Stade Bordelais led the scoring blitz by dismantling Lyon 52-17 on the road, while league leaders ASM Romagnat cruised to a 24-7 away win against Toulon Provence Méditerranée. Stade Toulousain stayed hot on their heels by comfortably routing AC Bobigny 45-7, and Montpellier secured an impressive 34-17 home triumph over Blagnac. The only real nail-biter took place in Grenoble, where the Amazones just barely squeezed past Stade Villeneuvois Lille Métropole 22-20.
      • Following the final regular-season round next week, the knockout stage will see top-seeded ASM Romagnat and Stade Toulousain hold home-field advantage for the semifinals on June 20 and June 21, 2026, hosting Stade Bordelais and Blagnac to decide who battles for the championship title on June 28, 2026. [link]
  • Energia AIL
    • Following a consultation process with clubs, the IRFU announced that the Energia All‑Ireland League Women’s Division will restructure for the 2026/2027 season, expanding to 12 teams and transitioning into a direct 6:6 split across Division 1A and Division 1B. Team placement will be determined by finishing positions in the current season, with the top six playing in Division 1A and the remaining sides forming Division 1B. Moving forward, a system of pure meritocracy will dictate movement between tiers, featuring promotion and relegation playoffs between the lowest-ranked Division 1A team and the top Division 1B team, alongside a similar playoff pathway between the bottom of Division 1B and the provincial qualifying league champions. Additionally, a new three-round cup competition format will run alongside the league, dividing teams into three groups of four to determine the semifinalists. [link]
• Oceania
  • Super W
    • The newly rescheduled 2026 Super Rugby Women’s season in Australia kicks off this weekend under a revamped winter format running from June through August. The five-round competition begins with a Friday night clash on June 5 at Leichhardt Oval, where the defending champion New South Wales Waratahs, fresh off capturing their sixth title in 2025, host the Fijian Drua in a highly anticipated opening-round rematch of their historic rivalry. Action continues on Saturday, June 6, with the Queensland Reds squaring off against the ACT Brumbies at Ballymore Stadium, while the Western Force sit out the opening week with a bye. This season carries heightened stakes for the five franchises, as the single-elimination finals series in July will not only crown a domestic champion but will also send the winner to face the top Sky Super Rugby Aupiki side in the inaugural cross-over Women’s Super Rugby Champions Final. [link]
  • Super Rugby Aupiki
    • Ahead of the official June 13 kickoff for the 2026 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki season, the league’s four franchises fine-tuned their preparations with a pair of preseason matches. In a clash at the Lincoln University Grounds, Matatū laid down an impressive marker with a 36-26 victory over the Hurricanes Poua, displaying sharp attacking form as they look to build momentum after finishing as runners-up last year. Meanwhile, Chiefs Manawa delivered a statement performance by commanding the field in a 34-17 win over the Blues Women, sending an early warning shot directly to the defending champions who topped the table in 2025. [link]
• Africa
• Asia

Women’s Rugby Features

• ‘It Is About Heart And Confidence’ As Uganda’s Babirye Prepares For Survival Showdown [link]
• Exeter’s Salvin turns to surprise face to provide Maddie Feaunati cover [link]
• Claudia Moloney-MacDonald hits back at ‘wild’ note about marriage to Ireland star Cliodhna [link]
• Aoife Wafer: ‘I don’t think I’m anywhere near a finished product’ [link]
• Super Rugby Women’s Season Preview: Brumbies chasing improvement in 2026 [link]
• Michelle Alivitsa: Kenya Rugby Fraternity Mourns Death of Lioness Star after Illness [link]
• The first international women’s match on UK shores was a step into the unknown only made possible by a group of determined women [link]
• Analysing Aupiki in 3 Key Stats [link]
• Police Officer Rakotoarison Leads Madagascar Survival Fight [link]
• Cruikshank to depart Edinburgh Rugby [link]
• Super Rugby Women’s Season Preview: Champion Waratahs the hunted in 2026 [link]
• Rowland praises ‘standout’ Morrall after Breakthrough Player of the Season nomination [link]
• Who is British & Irish Lions Women’s head coach Jo Yapp? [link]
• Anne Fernández de Corres: ‘I wanted to expose myself to something new’ [link]
• Pioneer of the Pitch Series: Mary Swanstrom: Rugby’s Quadruple Threat – Player, Coach, Athletic Trainer, and Educator [link]
• Beckett follows Stratford and Aldcroft to Sale
   [link]
• How the Women’s Rugby World Cup changed the commercial trajectory of the Women’s Six Nations [link]
• Rugby: “Little menace” Sariah Ibarra hopes to create lasting legacy ahead of LA28 Olympics [link]
• Yapp makes history as first Lions Women coach [link]
• Savannah Roberts-Hickling’s journey to the Brumbies spotlighted during Reconciliation Week [link]
• England World Cup-winning captain Stratford to join Sale [link]
• Super Rugby Women’s Season Preview: Fijian Drua pursuing third title [link]
• ‘Everyone hates us, don’t they?’: Mo Hunt on why England won’t tire of dominating women’s rugby [link]
• Emotional Return for Springbok Winger Arries at Rugby Africa Women’s Cup [link]
• Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship Fixtures Confirmed [link]
• ‘It changed everything’: Nasser eager to recreate her moment of rugby inspiration [link]
• ‘It’s an incredible group’: Wafer signs on for more with Harlequins [link]
• Late rugby switch pays off for Drua rookie [link]
• Rocky Clark followed the wrong crowd and could have been arrested [link]
• Mother’s sacrifice fuels Drua rookie Sorokacika’s dream [link]
• Super Rugby Women’s Season Preview: Western Force primed for title success [link]
• As England win their eighth Women’s Six Nations on the bounce, what did the public make of this year’s tournament? [link]

Women’s Rugby Media

• Full Credit: Matatu’s Blueprint for Success
• Challenging the Game: Female coaches, the system structures and coach development
• The Good, The Scaz & The Rugby: The Semi Final Race; Can Gloucester Hartpury Win Four?
• The Rugby Rodeo: Are the Red Roses the Greatest Sports Team Ever?
• Mudder Rucker: Capping it Off Right
• LTW Fancast: Wait a minute, the PWR is back?
• The Women’s Rugby Podcast: Record Crowds and New Directions
• Rugby Hive: Jack Hanratty 🇮🇪 | Episode 38