WXV Rugby Tournament: What’s Next for Women’s International Competition?
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The WXV, World Rugby’s initiative to boost women’s international rugby, is taking a breather in 2025 due to the Rugby World Cup. But don’t worry,rugby fans,it’s slated to return in 2026,promising more thrilling matches and opportunities for teams across the globe to compete.
Think of the WXV as a global stage, like the Champions League in soccer, but for women’s rugby. It’s designed to ensure that teams from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres get to clash more frequently enough, fostering growth and competition.
WXV: A Three-Tiered System
The WXV is structured into three tiers, each offering a diffrent level of competition and development opportunities. Here’s a rapid recap of the 2024 results:
- WXV 1: England emerged victorious after a hard-fought win over Canada, solidifying their dominance in the top tier.
- WXV 2: Australia showcased their strength by defeating Scotland, claiming the WXV 2 title.
- WXV 3: spain triumphed over Fiji, proving their mettle in the third tier.
In the inaugural 2023 season, England, Scotland and Ireland took the crowns in WXV 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
But what exactly happened in the last two years? Let’s dive into the results to get a clearer picture of the competition.
WXV 1 Results: 2024
Sunday 29 September 2024
- USA Women 21-61 England Women
BC Place, Vancouver (Canada)
Kick-off: 8.30pm BST / 9.30pm SAST / 5.30am AEST (Monday) / 8.30am NZDT (Monday) / 3.30pm ET / 12.30pm PT - Canada 46-24 France
BC Place, Vancouver (Canada)
Kick-off: 11.45pm BST / 12.35pm SAST / 8.45am AEST (Monday) / 11.45am NZDT (Monday) / 6.45pm ET / 3.45pm PT - New Zealand 27-29 Ireland
BC Place, Vancouver (Canada)
Kick-off: 3.00am BST (Monday) / 4.00am SAST (Monday) / 12.00pm AEST (Monday) / 3.00pm NZDT / 10.00pm ET / 7.00pm PT
Saturday 5 October 2024
- USA 14-22 france
Langley Event Center, Langley (Canada)
Kick-off: 8.30pm BST / 9.30pm SAST / 5.30am AEST (Monday) / 8.30am NZDT (Monday) / 3.30pm ET / 12.30pm PT - Canada 21-8 Ireland
Langley Event Centre, Langley (Canada)
kick-off: 11.45pm BST / 12.35pm SAST / 8.45am AEST (Monday) / 11.45am NZDT (Monday) / 6.45pm ET / 3.45pm PT
Sunday 6 October 2024
- New Zealand Women 31-49 England Women
Langley Event Center, Langley (Canada)
Kick-off: 9.00pm BST / 10.00pm SAST / 7.00am AEST (Monday) / 9.00am NZDT (Monday) / 4.00pm ET / 1.00pm PT
friday 11 October 2024
- USA 14-26 Ireland
BC Place,Vancouver (Canada)
kick-off: 8.30pm BST / 9.30pm SAST / 5.30am AEST (Monday) / 8.30am NZDT (monday) / 3.30pm ET / 12.30pm PT
Saturday 12 October 2024
- New Zealand 39-14 France
BC Place, Vancouver (Canada)
Kick-off: 11.45pm BST / 12.35pm SAST / 8.45am AEST (Monday) / 11.45am NZDT (Monday) / 6.45pm ET / 3.45pm PT - Canada Women 12-21 England Women
BC Place,Vancouver (Canada)
Kick-off: 3.00am BST / 4.00am SAST / 1.00pm AEST / 3.00pm NZDT / 10.00pm ET (Saturday) / 7.00pm PT (Saturday)
WXV 2 Fixtures: 2024
Friday 27 September 2024
- South Africa 31-24 Japan
DHL Stadium, Cape Town (South Africa)
Kick-off: 3.00pm BST / 4.00pm SAST / 12.00am AEST (Saturday) / 2.00am NZDT (Saturday) / 10.00am ET / 7.00am PT
Saturday 28 September 2024
- Australia 37-5 Wales
DHL Stadium, Cape Town (South africa)
Kick-off: 11.30am BST / 12.30pm SAST / 8.30pm AEST / 11.30pm NZDT / 6.30am ET / 3.30am PT - Italy 0-19 Scotland
DHL Stadium, Cape Town (South Africa)
Kick-off: 2.00pm BST / 3.00pm SAST / 11.00pm AEST / 1.00am NZDT (Sunday) / 9,00am ET / 6.00am PT
Friday 4 October 2024
- Wales 5-8 Italy
Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town (South Africa)
Kick-off: 3.00pm BST / 4.00pm SAST / 12.00am AEST (Saturday) / 2.00am NZDT (Saturday) / 10.00am ET / 7.00am PT
Saturday 5 October 2024
- Japan 13-19 Scotland
Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town (South Africa)
Kick-off: 1.00pm BST / 2.00pm SAST / 10.00pm AEST / 12.00am NZDT (Sunday) / 8.00am ET / 5.00am ET - South Africa 26-33 Australia
Athlone Sports Stadium,Cape Town (South Africa)
Kick-off: 4.00pm BST / 5.00pm SAST / 1.00am AEST (sunday) / 3.00am NZDT (Sunday) / 11.00am ET / 8.00am PT
Friday 11 October
- Wales 19-10 Japan
Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town (South Africa)
Kick-off: 3.00pm BST / 4.00pm SAST / 12.00am AEST (Saturday) / 2.00am NZDT (Saturday) / 10.00am ET / 7.00am PT
Saturday 12 October
- South Africa 19-23 Italy
Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town (South africa)
Kick-off: 1.00pm BST / 2.00pm SAST / 10.00pm AEST / 12.00am NZDT (Sunday) / 8.00am ET / 5.00am ET - Australia 31-22 Scotland
Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town (South Africa)
Kick-off: 4.00pm BST / 5.00pm SAST / 1.00am AEST (Sunday) / 3.00am NZDT (sunday) / 11.00am ET / 8.00am PT
WXV 3 Results: 2024
friday 27 September
- Spain 83-0 Madagascar
The sevens 2, Dubai
Kick-off: 4.00pm BST / 5.00pm SAST / 1.00am AEST (Saturday) / 3.00am NZDT (Saturday) / 11.00am ET / 8.00am PT
Saturday 28 september
- Fiji 38-3 Hong Kong China
The Sevens 2, Dubai
Kick-off: 3.00pm BST / 4.00pm SAST / 12.00am AEST (Sunday) / 2.00am NZDT (Sunday) / 10.00am ET / 7.00am PT - Netherlands 8-8 Samoa
The Sevens 2, Dubai
Kick-off: 5.30pm BST / 6.30pm SAST / 2.30am AEST (Sunday) / 4.30am NZDT (Sunday)/ 12.30pm ET / 9.30pm PT
Friday 4 October
- Madagascar 7-38 Hong Kong China
The Sevens 2, Dubai
Kick-off: 4.00pm BST / 5.00pm SAST / 1.00am AEST (Saturday) / 3.00am NZDT (Saturday) / 11.00am ET / 8.00am PT
Saturday 5 October
- Fiji 17-45 Samoa
The Sevens 2, Dubai
Kick-off: 3.00pm BST / 4.00pm SAST / 12.00am AEST (Sunday) / 2.00am NZDT (Sunday) / 10.00am ET / 7.00am PT - Netherlands 0-20 Spain
The Sevens 2, Dubai
Kick-off: 5.30pm BST / 6.30pm SAST / 2.30am AEST (Sunday) / 4.30am NZDT (Sunday) / 12.30pm ET / 9.30pm PT
Friday 11 October
- Samoa 46-15
The Sevens 2, Dubai
Kick-off: 4.00pm BST / 5.00pm SAST / 1.00am AEST (Saturday) / 3.00am NZDT (Saturday) / 11.00am ET / 8.00am PT
Saturday 12 October
- Netherlands 33-3 Hong Kong China
The sevens 2, Dubai
Kick-off: 3.00pm BST / 4.00pm SAST / 12.00am AEST (Sunday) / 2.00am NZDT (Sunday) / 10.00am ET / 7.00am PT - Fiji 8-10 Spain
The sevens 2, Dubai
Kick-off: 5.30pm BST / 6.30pm SAST / 2.30am AEST (Sunday) / 4.30am NZDT (Sunday) / 12.30pm ET / 9.30pm PT
Pros and Cons of the WXV
Like any major sporting initiative, the WXV has its strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a balanced look:
Pros:
- Increased Competition: Provides more opportunities for international matches, raising the level of play.
- Global Development: helps grow the sport in developing rugby nations.
- Greater Exposure: Showcases women’s rugby to a wider audience, attracting fans and sponsors.
Cons:
- Scheduling Challenges: Balancing the WXV with other domestic and international competitions can be tricky.
- Resource Disparities: Some nations may struggle to compete due to limited funding and resources.
The WXV is a game-changer for women’s rugby, offering a platform for growth, competition, and global recognition. While challenges remain, the future looks shining for this exciting tournament.
WXV Rugby Tournament: Assessing the Impact on Women’s International Competition – An Expert Q&A
Keywords: WXV Rugby, Women’s Rugby, International Rugby, Rugby World Cup, WXV Results, Women’s Sports, Rugby Tournament, Global Rugby
The WXV, World Rugby’s aspiring project to revolutionize women’s international rugby, is currently on hold in 2025 due to the Rugby World Cup. But with it’s return slated for 2026, interest remains high.To delve deeper into the WXV’s impact, successes, and potential pitfalls, Time.news spoke with Dr. Eleanor Vance, a leading sports management consultant specializing in women’s rugby growth.
Time.news: Dr. Vance, thanks for joining us. The WXV is positioned as a game-changer. can you explain its central aim and how it’s structured to achieve that?
Dr. Vance: Absolutely.The WXV’s core aim is to elevate the standard of women’s international rugby by providing a structured, competitive surroundings for teams globally. It’s a three-tiered system – WXV 1, WXV 2, and WXV 3 – designed to cater to diffrent levels of competition and facilitate growth. Think of it like tiered football leagues, where teams can progress or be relegated based on performance. This structure ensures more meaningful matches between teams of similar caliber, leading to enhanced development.
Time.news: The article highlights England’s victory in WXV 1, Australia in WXV 2, and Spain in WXV 3 for the 2024 season. How significant are these results in the broader context of women’s rugby?
Dr.Vance: These results are hugely significant. They demonstrate the growing competitiveness within the WXV Rugby framework.England solidifying their dominance in WXV 1 emphasizes their continued investment and strong player pool. Australia’s win in WXV 2 showcases their progress and potential to challenge the top teams. Spain’s triumph in WXV 3 marks a crucial step in their rugby development, highlighting the positive impact of the WXV Rugby Tournament on emerging nations. Looking back to 2023, we saw different winners (England, Scotland, Ireland in WXV 1, 2 and 3 respectively), demonstrating the evolving landscape of women’s international rugby.
Time.news: The article draws a parallel between the WXV and the Champions League in soccer. is this a fair comparison?
Dr. Vance: It’s a useful analogy to understand the WXV Rugby‘s overarching objective. Like the Champions League, the WXV aims to provide a high-profile platform for international competition. However, it’s essential to remember that women’s rugby is still developing. The resource disparities between nations are more pronounced compared to soccer. Building the WXV into a globally recognized brand similar to the Champions League will require substantial investment and strategic marketing efforts.
Time.news: The article lists some pros and cons of the WXV, including increased competition and global development, but also scheduling challenges and resource disparities. Which of these present the biggest hurdles for the WXV’s long-term success?
Dr. Vance: the resource disparities are the most critical challenge.While increased competition is fantastic, not all teams have the financial backing, coaching infrastructure, or player development pathways to compete effectively. This can lead to unbalanced matches and hinder the overall growth of the sport.Addressing this requires targeted investment in developing rugby nations, knowledge sharing programmes, and potentially, a more nuanced approach to promotion and relegation between tiers. Women’s International Rugby needs to be accessible to grow.
time.news: What specific steps can World Rugby and national unions take to mitigate these resource disparities and ensure fair competition within the WXV?
Dr.Vance: There are several avenues. Firstly, increased financial support for developing nations is paramount. This could involve grants specifically earmarked for coach education, facilities advancement, and player development programmes. Secondly, knowledge transfer initiatives, where established rugby nations share best practices with emerging ones, are crucial.exploring innovative funding models, such as corporate sponsorships and targeted fundraising campaigns, can help bridge the resource gap. equal Access to the sport is significant during the Rugby World Cup break in 2025.
Time.news: The WXV takes a break in 2025 because of the Rugby World Cup.How can teams maintain momentum during this hiatus?
Dr. Vance: The break presents an opportunity for teams to focus on internal development. This includes strengthening their domestic leagues, investing in youth rugby programmes, and working on player conditioning and tactical skills. It’s also a chance to review their WXV performances, identify areas for improvement, and develop a thorough strategy for the tournament’s return in 2026.
Time.news: For young women inspired by the WXV and considering a career in rugby,what advice would you give them?
Dr.Vance: My advice is simple: embrace the sport wholeheartedly! Focus on honing your skills, building your fitness, and developing your tactical understanding.Seek out quality coaching and mentorship.Most importantly, be resilient, keep pushing your boundaries, and never lose your passion for the game. The WXV Rugby is creating more opportunities than ever before, and with dedication and hard work, you can achieve your dreams in women’s rugby.
