Black Ferns, Toulousain, Selangor & Ottawa Wolves Claim Titles | WRR 260

We are still celebrating 20 years, and the giveaways continue! Next up on our journey is chasing the 9k follower mark after smashing past 8k. 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

• Look Ahead [link]
  • Asia 7s Series – Suzhou (CHN) (Aug 29–30): The opening leg of the 2026 Asia Rugby Sevens Series brings 12 women’s teams to China, streaming live on RugbyPass TV. China enters as the defending regional champion, but the stakes extend far beyond the weekend: this series doubles as key preparation for the October Asian Games and gives the overall winner a direct path into the global SVNS 3 setup.
  • FISU World University Championship Rugby Sevens – Stellenbosch (RSA) (Sep 4–6): The world’s top university athletes head to Stellenbosch University’s Danie Craven Stadium for a three-day international tournament. The seven-team women’s field features South Africa, Canada, France, Australia, the United States, Ireland, and defending champions Japan, who are returning to defend the title they won at the 2024 edition in Aix-en-Provence.

Domestic

• SuperSevens (FRA)
  • Stade Toulousain captured the women’s title in the opening stage of the 2026 In Extenso SuperSevens in Biarritz, edging out ASM Rugby Féminin 10-7 in a hard-fought final. ASM Clermont entered the championship match on a high note, sweeping their pool before overcoming Bobigny in the semi-finals on a crucial try from international star Alycia Christiaens. Toulouse took a rockier path after dropping an early match to Blagnac, but they quickly found their groove by blowing out Grenoble 41-7 and crushing UBB 38-7 in the knockouts. Clermont struck first in the final to take a 7-0 advantage into the break off a fast-break counter, but Toulouse completely controlled the second half. A second-half try pulled Toulouse back within striking distance before a magnificent skip pass set up the game-winning score in the 11th minute, securing the stage victory for the Red and Blacks. [link]
• SUKMA Games (MYS)
  • The SUKMA Games 2026 delivered peak drama, culminating in host nation Selangor snatching gold with a dominant 41-0 victory over Sarawak. Sarawak had rolled into the knockout stages looking unstoppable after sweeping their group matches, but chaos struck in the semi-finals when they initially lost to Terengganu, only to successfully protest Terengganu’s use of an unregistered player and be awarded a 20-0 default win to reach the final. Despite Sarawak’s gritty run to earn their second straight silver medal, Selangor proved to be an absolute powerhouse on their home turf at Sultan Suleiman Field, putting on an offensive masterclass in the final to shut out Sarawak completely and secure the championship title in style. [link]

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

• Recapping the Weekend
  • New Zealand vs Australia – O’Reilly Cup
    • The Black Ferns put on an absolute clinic at Go Media Stadium, crushing the Wallaroos 66-19 to keep the Laurie O’Reilly Cup right where it belongs. Despite Australia celebrating their 100th Test, New Zealand dominated from the opening whistle, unleashing a terrifying mix of forward power and backline finesse that netted ten tries. Heavy hitters like Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu bullied the Aussie defense, setting up easy scores for Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Ruahei Demant, and Ayesha Leti-I’iga, while debuts for Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a and Amarante Sititi kept the scoreboard ticking late. Australia showed brief flashes of life with tries from Desiree Miller, Waiaria Ellis, and Brittany Merlo, but they were simply overwhelmed by the relentless kiwi onslaught. [link]
  • Bingham Cup – Brisbane 2026
    • The 2026 Amanda Mark Cup brought four action-packed days of inclusive rugby to Brisbane, and Canada’s Ottawa Wolves ultimately walked away as champions. After a thrilling tournament featuring top international squads like the Nashville Stone Lions and Philadelphia Gryphons, Ottawa secured the title by taking down Ireland’s Emerald Warriors. The two sides had already played out a tight 14-12 battle earlier in pool play, but Ottawa proved too strong when it mattered most. It marks the second time the Canadian side has lifted the trophy since the tournament’s inception in 2022, capping off a dominant week of rugby for the squad. [link]
• Off the Field
  • Spain vs South Africa Announced
    • Spain is set to play a historic test match against South Africa on October 4th at Seville’s La Cartuja Sports Complex. The fixture marks the first time Spain has hosted an official match in Seville, serving as a major centerpiece for Andalusian rugby. Serving as the finale of Spain’s first competitive window under head coach Régis Sonnes, the match offers crucial preparation as the team targets qualification for the 2029 World Cup in Australia. Las Leonas face a steep challenge against a highly physical Springbok side that has dominated recent meetings, with Spain searching for their first win over South Africa since 2019. [link]
  • 16 Year Epidemiological Study
    • A 16-year epidemiological study published in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living analyzed match injuries across five women’s Rugby World Cups from 2010 to 2025. The overall match injury incidence stood at 45.2 injuries per 1,000 player-match-hours, showing a significantly lower injury rate compared to men’s World Cups, though the mean severity was much higher at 48.4 days. Forwards experienced a statistically significant increase in body mass over the 16-year period, growing an average of 0.40 kg per year, driven largely by front-row players. Knee-ligament injuries and concussions emerged as the two highest welfare priorities, with knee-ligament damage alone accounting for 33.0% of total time lost for backs and 43.2% for forwards. The tackle area proved to be the single most dangerous phase of play, driving 50% of all match injuries. Researchers emphasized that future injury prevention programs must be sex-specific rather than simply adapting protocols designed for men’s rugby. [link]
  • USA Eagle Astronauts
    • Three former USA Rugby Eagles have successfully made the leap from elite contact sports to NASA’s astronaut corps, demonstrating how the pitch serves as prime preparation for human spaceflight. Jessica Watkins went from leading the U.S. squad in tries at the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens to commanding SpaceX Crew-13, becoming the first Black woman to complete a long-duration ISS mission and the first NASA astronaut to fly twice on Crew Dragon. Veteran USA Eagle and decorated combat pilot Anne McClain, who accumulated over 350 days in orbit and completed three spacewalks, directly credited her rugby background for building the physical endurance and teamwork needed for astronaut training. Joining them as one of NASA’s newest astronaut candidates in Group 24 is Lieutenant Commander Erin Overcash, a former Eagles utility back and Super Hornet test pilot who views rugby’s high-pressure decision-making and collective trust as essential assets for high-risk, extreme environments. [link]
  • Governance Crises for Wales, USA & Canada
    • Call for Resignation of WRU Board
      • The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is facing severe public and political pressure over its controversial plan to reduce its four professional regional teams down to three by 2028. In response to growing backlash from supporters, Wales’ sport minister Heledd Fychan met with WRU CEO Abi Tierney to address the deep “disconnect” between fans and the governing body. Meanwhile, a coalition of business leaders and rugby figures is calling on the entire WRU board to resign, offering an alternative £110 million, four-team plan and demanding full transparency on the financial models used to justify cutting a region. Adding to the friction, the WRU officially rejected a proposed commercial partnership with Indigo Group to build a national network of player academies featuring former Wales stars. The WRU cited concerns that Indigo’s pay-to-play structure connects development opportunities to financial capability, threatening to create an uncontrolled parallel system alongside the official national pathway. [link 1] [link 2] [link 3]
    • BC Rugby Interim CEO Appointment – John Tait
      • BC Rugby has drawn intense backlash across the rugby community after appointing an interim CEO who was previously named in mistreatment allegations raised by 37 national team players. The fallout from John Tait’s 2021 departure from Rugby Canada remains a central point of frustration, where 37 athletes filed a collective SafeSport complaint detailing psychological distress, public humiliation, and an environment of intimidation. While an independent investigation concluded his conduct did not meet the technical definition of bullying under Rugby Canada’s outdated 2013 policy framework, leading to no formal sanction, the report explicitly validated that the athletes experienced real, genuine harm. Following recent coverage of the appointment, our social media comment sections were flooded with defensive pushback, where  commenters overwhelmingly rushed to protect the coach and dismiss the accounts of the players entirely. This total, casual erasure of 37 women is the most painful and infuriating part of this ongoing fallout. Sweeping the documented experiences of an entire national team roster under the rug to defend a male leader exposes the deep-seated misogyny still embedded in sports culture, highlighting the brutal reality of how far rugby still has to go to prioritize basic athlete safety and genuine accountability. [link]
    • USA College Rugby Rifts
      • YSCRugby Special Report: USA Rugby is currently locked in a major governance battle on two distinct fronts. First, a federal court ruled that a civil rights lawsuit alleging race discrimination in referee disciplining can move into discovery, exposing internal USA Rugby communications to mandatory legal review. Second, National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) filed a regulatory complaint with the USOPC over competition interference, claiming USA Rugby ignored a $300,000 partnership offer and twice refused mediation. Rather than negotiating, USA Rugby partnered with World Rugby to fund a separate collegiate entity, the CRAA. With the 2028 Olympics and upcoming World Cups fast approaching, critics argue that domestic infighting and leadership deflection are threatening the growth of American rugby. [link]
  • WXV
    • Fiji Squad
      • Newly appointed head coach Willie Walker has named the Fijiana XV squad for their upcoming WXV Global Series Challenger campaign in Hong Kong China, sticking with a core group of proven talent. Captained by scrum-half Kolora Lomani, the squad aims to build on their potential after suffering recent back-to-back home test losses against South Africa. Key forward Manuqalo Komaitai will link up with the team in Japan prior to their fixture against the Sakura Fifteen, though injuries have forced several players off the roster. Walker remains wildly optimistic about the team’s upside, believing the group has only scratched the surface of what they can accomplish as they prepare to face Spain, Hong Kong China, and the Netherlands. [link]
  • Teams in Gold Facility (AUS)
    • Rugby Australia, the Queensland Rugby Union, and the Queensland Government have partnered to build a high-performance Teams in Gold Facility at Brisbane’s historic Ballymore precinct. Scheduled to break ground on the site of the old Eastern Stand, the upgrade will establish a permanent headquarters for the Australian Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams alongside the Wallaroos, while also serving as a Queensland base for the Wallabies. The development will include a dedicated training pitch, elite gym, modern team facilities, and an upgraded 8,000-capacity main field to host match play. The move positions Rugby Sevens as the first Olympic program to relocate its base to Brisbane ahead of the 2032 Games, giving national squads a world-class environment to prepare for upcoming Olympic and Rugby World Cup campaigns. [link]
• Look Ahead [link]
  • Brazil Yaras vs. South Africa A (Aug 24 & Aug 29): A cross-border test match designed to challenge developmental talent and broaden squad depth ahead of upcoming international windows.
  • Netherlands vs. Scotland A (Aug 29): A cross-border test match designed to challenge developmental talent and broaden squad depth ahead of upcoming international windows.
  • Irish Interpros – Finals Day (Aug 29 @ 10:30 AM): The tournament moves to Dexcom Stadium in Galway for a double-header Finals Day. Connacht faces Ulster in the 3rd-place playoff, followed by defending champions Munster taking on Leinster in the final after Leinster locked up the second seed with a big win in Round 3.
  • Dr. Farah Palmer Cup Begins (Aug 29): New Zealand’s top domestic women’s competition kicks off across the Premiership and Championship divisions. In a feature match for the Championship opening round, defending champions Otago take on the Wellington Pride, giving players a critical platform to catch the eyes of Black Ferns selectors.

Domestic

• North America
  • BC Premier
    • The 2026-27 BC Women’s Premier league schedule is officially locked in, featuring an 18-round, 51-match battle kicking off on September 26th. The core six clubs are set to play a triple round-robin format over 45 matches, with Seattle hopping in for a six-game exhibition tour against each club. All eyes are on the five-time defending champion Vancouver Thunderbirds, who return to protect their throne after taking down Westshore in last season’s final. Round 1 wastes no time getting into heavy action, headlined by Burnaby Lake hosting Westshore, Vancouver Thunderbird clashing with the Ravens, and Meraloma taking on Castaway Wanderers. [link]
• South America
• Europe
• Oceania
• Africa
• Asia

Women’s Rugby Features

• World Cup-winning duo headline 13 international re-signings at Exeter [link]
• ‘Borderline Personality Disorder is my superpower’ [link]
• Three South Africans on WXV Global Series match officials panel [link]
• Why Wallaroos coach has ‘no doubt’ Maddison Levi is ready for Test debut [link]
• Rugby coach’s Spanish adventure awaits, but she needs your help [link]
• Match official appointments locked in for WXV Global Series and Challenger [link]
• ‘Big step forward’: Springbok Women name squad for inaugural ‘A’ tour [link]
• Sana Govender: The Leinster head coach who came by way of Gdansk and Skibbereen [link]
• ‘I absolutely loved it’: How a 330km walk kept Rhona Lloyd on the pitch [link]
• Sorensen-McGee returns to Black Ferns for O’Reilly Cup clash with Australia [link]
• From idol to rival: Ellis ready for date with Demant [link]
• IRFU complete Provincial Talent Coaches with trio of appointments [link]
• Queensland Government and Rugby Australia announce new upgrades for Brisbane’s Ballymore [link]
• Scotland’s Evie Gallagher promises ‘different brand of rugby’ at WXV [link]
• Trusting the Process [link]
• USA Wins 2nd Silver at Maccabiah [link]
• SVNS superstar Maddison Levi and ex-Black Fern set for Wallaroos debuts [link]
• Australia Sevens, Wallaroos to call Ballymore home with ‘Teams of Gold’ upgrade [link]
• More than rugby: Santo Taumata’s Black Ferns return shaped by faith, leadership and tautua [link]
• Mary Zulu leads new generation as Springbok Women ‘A’ embark on historic Brazil tour [link]
• Trailfinders Women Announce Signing of Rugby World Cup and Olympic Champion Ruby Tui [link]
• From Motherwell to Brazil: Litha Earns Springbok Women’s Call-Up [link]
• The SVNS Series stars already shaping the race to LA 2028 [link]
• France step up WXV Global Series preparations with forwards clinic [link]
• Asia Rugby Sevens Series returns with new contenders chasing title honours [link]
• ‘Probably our life’: two hearts, two title hopes rest on one big day [link]
• Wales wing Lisa Neumann provides update on club rugby future [link]
• €9,000 to boost female coaches: the RFER strengthens its training grants [link]
• Five women’s rugby internationals who have represented two nations [link]
• Neumann uncertain over future after Quins exit [link]
• Chiefs Women’s young guns sign transition contracts
   [link]
• USA Readies for 5 WXV Tests [link]
• Inside the murky world of Black Ferns sevens/15s code switching [link]
• Exeter Chiefs women promote Bishop to head coach role [link]

Women’s Rugby Media

• Don’t Take it Personally: Wales has turned on the WRU, this can’t continue featuring Nicks Johnston
• MLR Weekly EXCLUSIVE: USA Rugby CEO Bill Goren Addresses College Rugby Drama/Controversy
• Mudder Rucker: Fifty Shades of Maroon