World Rugby WXV: Fijiana 15’s
Written by Mere Moto on October 19, 2023
World Rugby has launched a new three-tier annual global women’s international 15s competition within a restructuring of the test calendar. Launched this October , WXV will revolutionise the women’s international rugby landscape, providing for the first time a meaningful pathway for all unions and a competitive springboard towards an expanded 16-team Rugby World Cup in 2025.
The three tournaments have 18 teams in 3 different locations.
WXV 1
WXV 1 will consist of six teams and be played in a cross-pool format, as a standalone tournament in one location, which will be determined on a year-by-year basis.
Participating teams include Australia, Canada , England, France, New Zealand, Wales.
There will be no promotion or relegation in the first cycle of WXV 1.
WXV1 will be hosted by New Zealand.
WXV 2
The WXV 2 competition will consist of six teams, played in a cross-pool format, as a standalone tournament in one location, which will be determined on a year-by-year basis.
Participating teams for 2023 are Scotland, Italy, USA, Samoa, Japan, South Africa.
The sixth-placed regional position in the WXV 2 competition at the end of each season will be relegated to WVX 3.
Cape Town in South Africa will play host to the six-team second level WXV 2
WXV 3
WXV 3 will also be played as a cross-pool format, made up of six teams: Ireland, Fiji, Spain, Kenya, Colombia, Kazakhstan.
The Group winner head up to group 2. The fate of the bottom team will be decided by a play-off with the next best side, according to the World Rugby Women’s Rankings.
WXV 3 dates will mirror the same weekends as WXV 2 hosted at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai.
What’s more is WXV will provide a pathway to Rugby World Cup 2025 with at least the five top ranked non-qualified teams at the end of WXV 2024 qualifying for the tournament.
Fijiana 15s
The Fijiana 15s team are taking part in WXV3 in Dubai and are currently in competition.
Winning the first game against Columbia 67-13.
They will play Spain 3.30am (FJT) Saturday 21st October and the final game will with Kazakhstan 1am (FJT) Saturday 28th October.
Credits: world.rugby , Fiji rugby
