The new international women’s rugby competition WXV will launch this October. The three-level tournament will see 27 fixtures played across three host countries bringing together the best women’s talent from around the world.
WXV 1 - New Zealand
The top three finishers in the TikTok Women’s 6 Nations 2023 – England, France, Wales – will compete against the top three finishers from the Pacific Four Series 2023 – New Zealand, Canada, Australia, with all matches taking place in host country New Zealand.
The teams play in a cross-pool format over three weekends with England v Australia kicking things off in Wellington, a repeat of last year’s RWC2021 quarter-final. The tournament will conclude in Auckland at the Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday 4th November in a repeat of the last RWC final as England’s Red Roses face the Black Ferns.
Fri 20th October – England v Australia, Wellington, 1900
Saturday 21st October – Canada v Wales, Wellington, 1600
Saturday 21st October – New Zealand v France, Wellington, 1900
Friday 27th October – England v Canada, Dunedin, 1900
Saturday 28th October – New Zealand v Wales, Dunedin, 1600
Saturday 28th October – France v Australia, Dunedin, 1900
Friday 3rd November – Australia v Wales, Auckland, 1900
Saturday 4th November – France v Canada, Auckland, 1600
Saturday 4th November – England v New Zealand, 1900
WXV 2 - South Africa
Six teams will head to Stellenbosch and Cape Town in early October after qualifying for the second level of the inaugural annual women’s competition.
Scotland and Italy qualified from positions four and five in the TikTok Women’s 6 Nations with USA joining as the fourth PAC4 team. Japan are the Asia qualifier with South Africa defeating Madagascar to join from Africa. Samoa made up the final team having edged Fiji to the Oceania spot.
Friday 13th October – Italy v Japan, Stellenbosch, 1300
Friday 13th October – Scotland v South Africa, Stellenbosch, 1630
Saturday 14th October – USA v Samoa, Stellenbosch, 1400
Friday 20th October – USA v Scotland, Cape Town
Friday 20th October – Italy v South Africa, Cape Town
Saturday 21st October – Japan v Samoa, Cape Town
Friday 27th October – Scotland v Japan, Cape Town
Friday 27th October – South Africa v Samoa, Cape Town
Saturday 28th October – USA v Italy, Cape Town
WXV 3 - Dubai
After a poor TikTok Women’s 6 Nations, Ireland finished as the first team to be confirmed into the third tier competition. They are joined by Kazakhstan from the Asia Rugby Championship, Kenya from the Rugby Africa Cup, Fiji from Oceania, Columbia having beaten Brazil in Medellin and Spain, the Rugby Europe Championship winners.
All matches will be played in The Sevens Stadium.
Friday 13th October – Fiji v Colombia, Dubai, 1700
Friday 13th October- Ireland v Kazakhstan, 19:30
Saturday 14th October – Spain v Kenya, 1700
Friday 20th October – Kazakhstan v Kenya, 1700
Friday 20th October – Spain v Fiji, 19:30
Saturday 21st October – Ireland v Colombia, 17:00
Friday 27th October – Kazakhstan v Fiji, 17:00
Friday 27th October – Kenya v Colombia, 19:30
Saturday 28th October – Ireland v Spain, 17:00
Here’s to another busy international window that will provide much of these sides with the opportunity for more test matches and a greater chance to develop and improve.
