What a draw… In their first World Cup, Hong Kong will face New Zealand, Australia and Chile in Pool A at the Men’s Rugby World Cup Australia 2027
Tag: South Africa
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 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
Women’s Rugby World Cup – bcene: Japan v Spain @ York, 7 September, 2025
Japanese and Spanish fans arrived in York hoping to see their team win their first World Cup Game.
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Photos: copyright Simon Durrant/bcmagazine
Women’s World Cup Kicks Off With Red Roses Win
Over 42,000 crowded into the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on 22 August to watch England’s Red Roses in the opening game of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
The tournament hosts savouring the noisy home atmosphere rewarded the crowd – a record for a Women’s World Cup game – with some exciting attacking rugby in a 69-7 win against a United States team determined not to let the occasion overwhelm them.
That Sunderland, a northern city that lives for its football team, not only embraced the tournament but enjoyed the match shows how far women’s rugby has come even in the three years since New Zealand 2022.
Watch the highlights here
Photos: copyright Simon Durrant/bc magazine
Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Ticketing
World Rugby have announced the ticketing process for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Fans will have two initial opportunities to secure their place at the tournament’s 11th edition, with the first tickets going on sale next year following the release of the much-anticipated match schedule in January 2026.
Tickets will be released in phases, starting in February 2026 for fans who register before the end of January 2026. Additional tickets will be available in May 2026. All matches and all price categories will be available during this presale.
In May 2026, a three-week general application phase will open to all supporters worldwide, offering the chance to request tickets for any match with a ballot system implemented for oversubscribed price categories to ensure fairness, confirmed World Rugby.
Superfan Pass
For the most passionate fan, Rugby World Cup 2027 is introducing the Superfan Pass, providing guaranteed access to purchase tickets. Superfan Passes will go on-sale on 5 August at 14:00 AEST.
The Superfan Pass option gives fans guaranteed access to tickets for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, including the opening match and the final. By purchasing a Superfan Pass you’ll be invited to buy tickets in February 2026 before anyone else.
How many tickets can I buy with Superfan Pass?
Each Superfan Pass holder can purchase up to four tickets per match, and up to 52 tickets across the tournament.
Wheelchair Superfan Pass holders can access a wheelchair ticket with a free companion, along with three more tickets, up to 52 tickets (not including the companion ticket) for any RWC 2027 matches.
How much does a Superfan Pass cost?
Superfan Passes cost AUD$750 and are limited to one per person. They can’t be transferred or resold. Superfan Passes on sale at 14:00 (AEST)
Match tickets are not included in the price of a Superfan Pass and must be purchased separately during the exclusive Superfan Pass sale in February 2026.
Ticketing Timeline
- 29 July, 2025 – Fans can register to access the presale (until the end of January 2026)
- 30 July, 2025 – RWC Experiences on sale for eight matches
- 5 August, 2025 – Superfan Passes on sale at 14:00 (AEST)
2026
- January 2026 RWC 2027 Ticket-inclusive travel packages available.
- February 2026 presale for fans who registered before the end of January 2026.
- May 2026 Application Phase ticket.
- July 2026 Premium Experience packages for selected matches on sale.
Additional reporting and images: World Rugby
2025 Rugby Championship
SANZAAR has today confirmed the match schedule for the 2025 Rugby Championship that will be played from 16 August to 2 October.
The Rugby Championship (TRC) mini-tour format will remain in place, with each team playing six matches comprising three home matches and three away matches. Each team will host a two-match tour, will play an away two-match tour, and play a one-match home and away series against the third remaining team.
This year, South Africa will host Australia for two matches before heading to New Zealand for two away matches. New Zealand will head to Argentina for its away mini-tour prior to hosting South Africa, while Australia will host Argentina for two matches.
The Bledisloe Cup home and away Tests between Australia and New Zealand will take place in Perth and Auckland this year, with South Africa and Argentina meeting in Durban and London. The London fixture will be only the second time a Rugby Championship match has been played outside of the four core territories of Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris stated, “The Rugby Championship is the pinnacle of southern hemisphere rugby and one of the world’s most prestigious tournaments. This year will be no different as some of the best Test teams in the world do battle across 11 cities across the four nations.”
“Anticipation is again high for the 2025 edition of TRC as the top talent from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa do battle for southern hemisphere supremacy. South Africa are the current World Champions and incumbent Rugby Championship champions, while Argentina are now fifth in the world rankings. New Zealand will warm-up with a Test series against France while the Wallabies have a big series against the British & Irish Lions to prepare for the Championship.”
“This year the tournament finishes with a match at Allianz Stadium Twickenham in London when Argentina host the Springboks. This is an exciting opportunity to showcase The Rugby Championship in the UK.”
Additional reporting and images: SANZAAR
Mandela Exhibition
Nelson Mandela has been central to every stage of South Africa’s epic struggle against apartheid – from formulating a new approach in the 1940s to leading the mass struggles of the 1950s, from the formation of Umkhonto weSizwe in the early 1960s to imprisonment for 27 years. He initiated and led negotiations in the 1990s, and served as the first President of a democratic South Africa, building a new nation from the fragments of conflict.
Mandela’s life is explored through six themes – character, comrade, leader, prisoner, negotiator and statesman. In each theme, the narrative is presented through dramatically visual wall displays, supported by films, books and photographs.
Mandela Exhibition in Hong Kong
Date: 12-28 September, 2016
Venue: 2/F Main Library, the University of Hong Kong
Tickets: Free
More info:
Monday – Friday: 9am-10pm
Saturday: 9am-7pm
Sunday: 10am 7pm
South Africa Win HK Women’s Sevens
South Africa held off a fast-finishing France 14-7 to win the Hong Kong Women’s Rugby Sevens Final held at Hong Kong Stadium. Hong Kong lost in the semi-final.
In the process the southern hemisphere women became the first South African team to reign victorious in Hong Kong, with the men yet to lift the crown here despite their perennial strength in the men’s competition.
South Africa looked the best team throughout day two and delivered when it mattered in the final, with Zenay Jordaan and Marithy Pienaar scoring the tries. With a number of senior players out, South Africa coach Renfred Dazel praised the work of his up-and-comers.
“The youngsters pulled something out of hat,” Dazel said. “The girls deserve it.” Dazel acknowledged the efforts of his entire defence and singled out Nadine Roos for her brilliant work after a day of cut-throat matches. “This morning we started in a must-win situation against France and we beat them. The outstanding players were the youngster Nadine Roos and Marithy Pienaar.”
South Africa had earlier defeated Japan 19-10 in an entertaining semi-final after grinding out a 7-5 win over the previously undefeated France to lock in their semi-final berth.
Hong Kong came agonisingly close to making it to the final, pushing France all the way and creating a number of opportunities in a 5-0 semi-final loss. Stalwarts Aggie Poon Pak-yan and Natasha Olson-Thorne led the way, with a particularly gutsy effort from Olson-Thorne in the final minutes nearly leading to a try.
“I’m disappointed we lost but I’m happy the girls gave everything,” coach Anna Richards said. “We needed to be a bit more patient in that first half, but I’d rather have an endeavour than them not trying.” Richards was proud of the way her charges handled themselves, but rued an early mistake that cost a try. “It’s a two-day tournament and if you’re slightly off, it’s a cruel game,” Richards said. “14 minutes. You make one mistake and it’s very hard to get back from that.”
Hong Kong went on to finish the tournament in fourth place, losing the third versus fourth play-off 10-5 against Japan. Earlier in the day, Hong Kong staved off a physical Japan side to book their semi-final berth, fighting back from 7-0 down to snare a gutsy 14-7 win in their final pool match. Poon continued her brilliant tournament with the opening try, before Nam Ka-man put the home side in the lead in the second half. “We didn’t start very well but I suppose that shows we are actually improving because we kept our composure,” Richards said. “We went down early and our defence kept us in it. We didn’t touch the ball for long periods but we maintained our composure.”
China won the Plate final 7-5 over Kazakhstan to cap a much improved second day, while Kenya ran out easy winners in the Bowl, defeating Sri Lanka 29-0.