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World Rugby ‘could not wait any longer’ to launch WXV
Sally Horrox believes World Rugby had a “moral and sporting responsibility” to launch its new annual global competition WXV this year, even though the inaugural edition will clash with Rugby World Cup 2023.
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World Rugby initially unveiled the three-tiered, 18-team tournament in March 2021 with the aim to increase competition for nations across the globe and drive competitiveness ahead of RWC 2025.
That announcement came two weeks after the decision was taken to postpone RWC 2021 for 12 months due to the pandemic, meaning in turn that WXV could not get under way until this year.
On Friday, World Rugby released more details about the inaugural campaign, confirming New Zealand and South Africa as hosts of WXV 1 and WXV 2 respectively, and unveiling a new brandmark it says gives the competition a “fresh, unique visual identity”.
The WXV 3 host will not be announced until at least the end of July, when all six qualifiers have been confirmed, but we now know that the second and third tiers will kick off on the weekend of 14 October, the same date as RWC 2023 quarter-finals are scheduled to be played.
WXV 1 will get under way in New Zealand a week later, meaning the top division’s third and final round will be staged on the weekend of 4 November.
That decision, taken in consultation with unions, ensures those matches will be played a week after the RWC 2023 final and will give the competition’s top tier “clear water” as it reaches its conclusion.
Horrox, World Rugby Chief of Women’s Rugby, admitted it is not an ideal time to launch the competition, but she believes WXV has an opportunity to “ride the wave” generated by the men’s tournament in France.
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“It’s fair to say this year, the imperative was making sure that we host this competition to give our unions more competition, improve standards,” she said.
“That’s the absolute imperative, we could not wait any longer to do that. We felt a real moral and sporting responsibility and from here we kick on and we’ll get bigger and better.”
World Rugby is being supported with “multi-million pound investment funding” from partners Mastercard, Capgemini and Gallagher in its delivery of WXV.
That funding is guaranteed for an initial two-year period as the game prepares for the expanded 16-team RWC 2025 in England, at which point a review into the first two editions will be undertaken.
“In 2025, we break WXV [for RWC 2025] and we will take a really clear look at it with our union partners to design, improve, develop it in whatever way is felt best for the game from ’26 onwards,” Horrox said.
Seven teams have already booked their place in the end-of-year competition via their results in European competitions.
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England, France and Wales – the top three in this year’s TikTok Women’s Six Nations – will compete in WXV 1, which Horrox confirmed will be staged in three sites across both the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
They will be joined by the top three teams from the World Rugby Pacific Four Series 2023, which features RWC 2021 winners New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the USA and will conclude in Ottawa on 14 July.
Scotland, meanwhile, have qualified for WXV 2 thanks to their fourth-place finish in the Six Nations and they will be joined by either Italy or Spain – who are due to contest a play-off – and one team from Africa, Asia and Oceania. The inaugural edition of WXV 2 will be played in Cape Town. The team that finishes fourth in the Pacific Four Series will also play in WXV 2.
Ireland’s prize for their first wooden spoon in 19 years is a place in WXV 3, in which the loser of the Italy-Spain play-off and one team from Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America will also compete.
WXV will increase the guaranteed number of tests contested by participating nations, who will each play three matches in a cross-pool format, and World Rugby hope grouping teams by performance will result in more competitive fixtures.
According to former Red Roses captain Sarah Hunter, who was unveiled as an ambassador for Gallagher’s World Rugby partnership on Wednesday, that will be key to WXV’s potential success.
“I think having the tiered system allows the best teams in the world to be playing against each other, to be pushing each other while giving other teams the most appropriate competition level to develop, improve and to push themselves,” she said. “Having recently played for England, [to know] that you’ll be playing some of the best teams in the world, it can only make you better.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
7 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
7 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
7 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
7 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
7 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
7 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
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