Tag: England

WXV Global Series Announced

The popularity, both in-person and among TV viewers, of the ongoing Women’s World Cup has seen World Rugby announce the launch of a new WXV Global Series.

World Rugby, national member unions and the International Rugby Players Association hope the new WXV Global Series will transform the global women’s rugby calendar.

The WXV Global Series introduces a new format featuring the top 18 national teams in the world and looks to increase “meaningful competition and calendar harmony, driving long-term performance and commercial sustainability in the women’s game”.

The top 12-ranked teams (Australia, Canada, England, France, Italy, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, USA, Wales) will compete in a home-and-away, cross-regional touring model within a new September – October international window.

Meanwhile, teams 13-18 (Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong China, Netherlands, Samoa, Spain) will play their fixtures in a single destination in 2026 and 2028, funded by World Rugby. Rankings to determine positions in the Series were set at the end of WXV 2024 and teams will remain fixed in these through the 2026–28 cycle, as agreed with participating unions.

The structure of the 2027 season will allow teams to face new opponents, with additional fixtures for unions not involved in the British and Irish Lions Women’s Tour to New Zealand.

WXV_Global-Series_Logo

WXV Global Series overview

  • 18 national teams across two competitions
  • Top 12 teams to play in a home-and-away cross-regional model from 2026–28
  • Teams will play between four and six fixtures annually within the new September–October test window
  • Teams 13-18 to compete in a funded, centralised annual tournament hosted at a single destination
  • Cross-over fixtures to take place in 2027 around the British and Irish Lions Women’s Tour
  • Over 100 international matches to be played across the three-year cycle
  • Touring unions retain commercial rights to home fixtures
  • Integrated into the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 qualification pathway

Women’s World Cup 2029 Australia Qualification

Qualification for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 in Australia will be determined through a combination of: RWC 2025 standings (with Canada, England, France and New Zealand having qualified after making the semi-finals),  eight teams through 2027 regional competition results, two teams through world rankings at the end of the 2027 Global Competition Window, and one final spot decided by the WXV Global Series 2028 centrally hosted competition for teams 13-18, which will function as a Final Qualification Tournament (FQT).

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: “The launch of the WXV Global Series marks another landmark moment for the women’s game, following what will be an era-defining Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, that will change the global landscape for women’s rugby.”

“It delivers on our commitment to raise standards, provide consistent and competitive fixtures, a clear international calendar that prioritises welfare, and create sustainable commercial outcomes for the women’s game globally. Working closely with players and unions, this model creates the platform for women’s rugby to reach its full potential on and off the field.”

Images: Simon Durrant/ bc magazine
Additional reporting: World Rugby

Hayat and Carter Shine in Historic England Clash

barber

An 81-run partnership between Babar Hayat and debutante Chris Carter was not enough for Hong Kong as the side lost its first ever 50-over encounter against an almost full strength England side containing Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Jos Butler, Alex Hales, Moeen Ali by 169 runs in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Chasing 343 for victory in the historic encounter, Babar smashed 78 runs from 81 balls, including eight boundaries, to top score for Hong Kong. He was joined the crease by debutant 18 year-old Chris Carter with the score at a precarious three for 59, and the pair put on 81 runs for the fourth wicket. Carter added a composed 34 runs from 44 balls for the highest partnership of the match.

Earlier, England scored 342 runs for the loss of eight wickets, with left-hander Moeen Ali smashing top scoring with 71 runs. Hong Kong captain Tanwir Afzal led from the front and claimed two wickets for 40 runs, while Haseeb Amjad and Nadeem Ahmed also took two.

Chris Carter was thrilled with debut on the international senior stage and said, “I wasn’t expecting to play, I was 12th man, so that was awesome. It was good to play against that calibre of player.” The Hong Kong born Carter said his call up to keep wicket after a minor injury to Jaime Atkinson required enormous focus. “I don’t usually get nervous wicket-keeping, I get far more nervous batting, but that was the most nervous I’ve ever been. But you just have to be positive and put those thoughts out of your head.” He added that there was one moment of the match he will never forget, “When Chris Woakes bowled me a bouncer that I hit over mid-wicket that was pretty special.”

The match served as a warm up match for Hong Kong’s crucial ICC Intercontinental Cup and World Cricket League Championship encounters against the United Arab Emirates, and coach Simon Cook was pleased with his team’s performance and said, “It’s a credit to Hong Kong really, with three grounds and 300 cricketers, to be able to produce cricketers at that level is incredible. What we need to do is continue producing the cricketers underneath, and that is part of my job. It was a huge learning curve for our players. We spoke after the match and I challenged them to think about the things to take away from the match to help them improve as players.”

England’s Chris Woakes said, “We have an important series coming and we need to hit the ground running, so this was an important game for us. I think the Hong Kong side should take credit for how it played today. We could have scored a bit more, but they got eight wickets down in the end. The way they batted showed that they can play against a strong England side. I think the future is bright for Hong Kong cricket. You have to take these experiences and learn from them, so as long as the side does that, I don’t see why it can’t move forward.”

At Abu Dhabi: England XI beat Hong Kong XI by 169 runs
Toss: England XI won the toss and decided to bat first
England XI 342/8, 50 overs (Moeen Ali 71, Alex Hales 64, Jason Roy 42)
Tanwir Afzal 2/40, Nadeem Amjad 2/58, Haseeb Amjad 2/80)
Hong Kong 173 all out, 40.2 overs (Babar Hayat 78, Chris Carter 34)
David Willey 4/43, Reece Topley 2/18, Adil Rashid 2/46)

Hong Kong XI
Tanwir Afzal (Captain), Mark Chapman, (Vice Captain), Aizaz Khan, Anshuman Rath, Babar Hayat, Chris Carter (Wicketkeeper), Ehsan Nawaz, Haseeb Amjad, Jamie Atkinson, Kinchit Shah, Nadeem Ahmed, Ninad Shah, Nizakat Khan, Waqas Barkat, Waqas Khan

Magnificent 7 @ The Sevens – Ben Gollings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvGG1Y0ZiXw

England sevens star Ben Gollings is the second member of the the HKRFU’s Magnificent 7.

The all-time leading points scorer in the HSBC Sevens World Series, Gollings’ record stands alone. An astonishing 276 of those points came from just eight appearances at the Hong Kong Sevens, earning Gollings the record as the leading points scorer in Hong Kong since the inception of the World Series in 2000.

Gollings’ Hong Kong haul came from 20 tries (tied-fifth all time in Hong Kong since the series began) and 88 conversions. He leads his next closest rival on the Hong Kong scoring table, Portugal’s Pedro Leal (224), by 52 points and outpaces third-placed Zhang (211) by 65 on Hong Kong’s leaderboard.

Gollings played on three of England’s four cup winning sides in 2002, 2004 and 2006 (England also won in 2003), and featured at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2005. He returned to his favourite stomping ground from 2008 to 2011 and is still a regular and popular visitor to the Sevens each year.

Ben Gollings

England Win Rugby World Cup 2014!

England Win Rugby World Cup 2014!

England were crowned champions after beating first-time finalists Canada 21-9 in an enthralling Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 title decider at Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris on Sunday.

The two sides had met in the pool stages with a 13-13 draw securing their places in the last four, but England’s greater experience – many of the players having been involved in one or more of the last three final defeats to New Zealand – gave them the favourites tag for many.

England and Canada both emerged with the intention of playing running rugby despite the prize at stake, much to the delight of the crowd. Both sides created early chances but it was an Emily Scarratt penalty that handed six-time finalists England the lead.

It could have been better for England but for some great defence from Canada captain Kelly Russell and her fellow back row Karen Paquin, who hauled down wing Kat Merchant in full flight. Natasha Hunt was ruled held up on the line and then Marlie Packer came close with another barnstorming run, but all England had to show for these efforts was a second Scarratt penalty.

The try eventually came just after the half hour, England keeping the ball alive to work an overlap on the right, Maggie Alphonsi sending full back Danielle Waterman, starting her third WRWC final, over in the right corner to the delight of the England contingent in the crowd. Canada, though, had the final say of the half with Magali Harvey’s penalty making it 11-3 at the break.

Canada emerged from the tunnel with renewed vigour and grew in confidence with every passing minute, wrestling the upper hand in the scrum from England and forcing penalties. They cut the deficit to two points through two Harvey penalties, the last just creeping over the bar. Canada’s tails were up but they instantly conceded a penalty to allow Scarratt to restore the five-point cushion after an hour.

The score remained that way into the last six minutes despite the best endeavours of both sides, but then Scarratt glided through the defence to ease England nerves, the centre shrugging off the tackle of Mandy Marchak to touch down for the decisive score. She converted her own try to push England out to 21-9 but, despite needing two scores, Canada fought vainly until the final whistle.

“All credit to Canada, they were fantastic today, but this group of girls and this group of staff deserve everything that we have got because we have worked so hard for this,” said jubilant England captain Katy Mclean. “So many great legends that have gone before us haven’t won (a World Cup) in an England shirt and that was for all of them that were here today and for all of the England rugby family.”

Canada captain Kelly Russell said: “A big physical game from both sides, I am so proud of the girls, they put everything they had into it, a lot of heart all round. Credit to England they were the better team today.”

Additional reporting courtesy IRB. Photo Dan Sheridan @INPHO