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WXV 3: Second round team news as Delgado returns to captain Spain

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - SEPTEMBER 27: Players of Spain line up for the National Anthems prior to the WXV 3 Pool match between Spain and Madagascar at The Sevens 2 Stadium on September 27, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Christopher Pike - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

The Sevens Stadium hosts the second round of WXV 3 this weekend as the competition for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 qualification heats up.

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Madagascar and Hong Kong China get the action underway in the United Arab Emirates at 19:00 local time (GMT+4) on Friday, before Fiji take on Samoa and the Netherlands face Spain on Saturday.

All the matches are available to stream live and for free via RugbyPass TV, where there is not a local broadcast deal in place.

Get all the team news for the second round of WXV 3 matches below as and when it drops.

Madagascar v Hong Kong China

Georgia Rivers and Zoe Smith have been drafted into the Hong Kong China line-up for their first ever match against Madagascar on Friday.

Smith kicked two conversions and a penalty to help her side to the 22-0 victory against Kazakhstan that confirmed their place in Dubai.

Fixture
WXV 3
Madagascar Women
7 - 38
Full-time
Hong Kong Women
All Stats and Data

And having appeared as a second-half replacement in Hong Kong China’s opening defeat to Fiji, she has been given the nod on the left wing with Lucia Bolton dropping out of the squad.

The other change is also in the backs as Rivers is handed her first test start in the number 10 jersey and Fung Hoi-Ching, who kicked her side’s only points against Fijiana, is named among the replacements.

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On the bench, prop Chan Hiu Tung and second row Chow Mei Nam could make their first appearances of the tournament.

Madagascar have made six personnel changes to the side that was beaten by Spain last Friday.

Hooker Nomenjanahary Rakotozafi comes into the front row with Nanou Razafializay, who wore the number two jersey against Las Leonas, moving to loosehead prop.

Felani Rakotoarison and Eleonore Rasoanantenaina come into the second row, with last week’s lock pairing, Oliviane Andriatsilavina and captain Sarindra Sahondramalala shifting to blindside flanker and No.8 respectively.

In the backs there is an all-new half-back pairing of Vonjimalala Ranorovololona and Voahirana Razafiarisoa, while Olivia Hanittrinaina comes in on the right wing and Claudia Rasoarimalala switches to the left.

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Madagascar: 15. Tiana Razanamahefa, 14. Olivia Hanittrinaina, 13. Veronique Rasoanekena, 12. Valisoa Razanakiniana, 11. Claudia Rasoarimalala, 10. Voahirana Razafiarisoa, 9. Vonjimalala Ranorovololona, 1. Nanou Razafializay, 2. Nomenjanahary Rakotozafi, 3. Fenitra Razafindramanga, 4. Felana Rakotoarison, 5. Eleonore Rasoanantenaina, 6. Oliviane Andriatsilavina, 7. Delphine Raharimalala, 8. Sarindra Sahondramalala (captain).
Replacements: 16. Mamisoa Rasoarimalala, 17. Laurence Rasoanandrasana, 18. Miora Rabarivelo, 19. Sariaka Nomenjanahary, 20. Volatiana Rasoanandrasana, 21. Joela Mirasoa Fenohasina, 22. Marie Bodonandrianina, 23. Zaya Fanantenana.

Hong Kong China: 15. Sabay Lynam, 14. Chong Ka Yan, 13. Natasha Olson-Thorne, 12. Gabriella Rivers, 11. Zoe Smith, 10. Georgia Rivers, 9. Jessica Ho, 1. Lau Nga Wun, 2. Tanya Dhar, 3. Kea Herewini, 4. Roshini Turner, 5. Micayla Baltazar, 6. Pun Wai Yan (captain), 7. Chan Tsz Ching, 8. Shanna Forrest.
Replacements: 16. Fion Got, 17. Chan Hiu Tung, 18. Lee Ka Shun, 19. Chloe Baltazar, 20. Chow Mei Nam, 21. Wan Tsz Yau, 22. Fung Hoi-Ching, 23. Uematsu Haruka.

Fiji v Samoa

Fiji head coach Mosese Rauluni has made three personnel changes to the team that beat Hong Kong China in the opening round.

Hooker Loraini Senivutu comes into the front-row, with Vika Matarugu shifting to tighthead prop.

Fixture
WXV 3
Fiji Women
17 - 45
Full-time
Samoa Women
All Stats and Data

In the backs, fly-half Jennifer Ravutia has been selected to start alongside scrum-half Evivi Senikarivi and Talei Wilson is drafted in at inside centre in place of Ivamere Nabura, who drops out of the squad.

Salanieta Kinita, who wore the 10 jersey last Saturday, is named on the replacements’ bench where there is also a place for Merewairita Neivosa.

Ramsey Tomokino, meanwhile, has made six personnel changes to the Samoa side that was held to a draw by the Netherlands.

Manusina will take on Fiji with an all-new front row of Denise Aiolupotea, Avau Filimaua and Tori Iosefo, while Joanna Fanene Lolo comes in at No.8.

Centre Ruby Finau and full-back Karla Wright-Akeli come into the backline as France Bloomfield switches to scrum-half and Drenna Falaniko lines up on the left wing.

Fiji: 15. Luisa Tisolo, 14. Repeka Adi Tove, 13. Adita Milinia, 12. Talei Wilson, 11. Kolora Lomani, 10. Jennifer Ravutia, 9. Evivi Senikarivi, 1. Bitila Tawake, 2. Loraini Senivutu, 3. Vika Matarugu, 4. Mereoni Nakesa, 5. Asinate Servei, 6. Nunia Delaimoala, 7. Sulita Waisega, 8. Karalaini Naisewa (captain).
Replacements: 16. Keleni Marawa, 17. Salanieta Nabuli, 18. Tiana Robanakadavu, 19. Aviame Veidreyaki, 20. Alfreda Fisher, 21. Ema Adivitalogo, 22. Salanieta Kinita, 23. Merewairita Neivosa.

Samoa: 15. Karla Wright-Akeli, 14. Linda Fiafia, 13. Tyra Boysen, 12. Ruby Finau, 11. Drenna Falaniko, 10. Cassie Siataga, 9. France Bloomfield, 1. Denise Aiolupotea, 2. Avau Filimaua, 3. Tori Iosefo, 4. Easter Savelio, 5. Ana-Lise Sio, 6. Utumalama Atonio, 7. Sui Pauaraisa (captain), 8. Joanna Fanene Lolo.
Replacements: 16. Ana Mamea, 17. Ti Tauasosi, 18. Angelica Uila, 19. Nina Foaese, 20. Sydney Niupulusu, 21. Ana Afuie, 22. Harmony Vatau, 23. Tietie Aiolupotea.

Netherlands v Spain

The Netherlands have made three changes as they chase a maiden victory against Spain in Dubai.

Hooker Anoushka Beukers and tighthead prop Brechtje Karst return to the front row, with Nicky Dix moving across to the loosehead.

The only other change comes in the backs, where Lisa Egberts starts at scrum-half and Esmee Ligtvoet shifts into the number 10 jersey.

Gwen van der Schoot and Marit Lemmens are drafted into the squad on the replacements’ bench as head coach Sylke Haverkorn again opts for a six-two splits between forwards and backs.

Fixture
WXV 3
Netherlands Women
0 - 20
Full-time
Spain Women
All Stats and Data

Harlequins prop Laura Delgado will captain Spain on Saturday having been recalled to the front row as one of five personnel changes for the match at The Sevens Stadium.

Delgado will line-up alongside hooker Cristina Blanco, who skippered the team to triumph against Madagascar, and tighthead prop Mireia de Andres, who is set to make her first Test start in Dubai.

The other changes in the pack come in the back row, where flankers Nerea García and Alba Capell have been recalled and will line-up either side of No.8 Carmen Castellucci.

Outside centre Alba Vinuesa is also back and replaces Claudia Cano, who drops to the bench.

Netherlands: 15. Lieve Stallmann, 14. Kika Mulling, 13. Linneke Gevers, 12. Pien Selbeck, 11. Gaya van Nifterik, 10. Esmee Ligtvoet, 9. Lisa Egberts, 1. Nicky Dix, 2. Anoushka Beukers, 3. Brechtje Karst, 4. Linde van der Velden (captain), 5. Inger Jongerius, 6. Elisabeth Boot, 7. Mariet Luijken, 8. Isa Prins.
Replacements: 16. Julia Morauw, 17. Sydney de Weijer, 18. Anouk Veerkamp, 19. Mhina de Vos, 20. Noah Demba, 21. Gwen van der Schoot, 22. Marit Lemmens, 23. Emma van Traa.

Spain: 15. Claudia Peña, 14. Claudia Perez, 13. Alba Vinuesa, 12. Zahia Perez, 11. Clara Piquero, 10. Amalia Argudo, 9. Anne Fernandez de Corres, 1. Laura Delgado (captain), 2. Cristina Blanco, 3. Mireia de Andres, 4. Nadina Cisa, 5. Lourdes Alameda, 6. Nerea García, 7. Alba Capell, 8. Carmen Castellucci.
Replacements: 16. Maria Roman Mallen, 17. Iñes Antolinez Fernandez, 18. Sidorella Bracic Rodriguez, 19. Elena Martinez, 20. Lina Piñeiro, 21. Lucia Diaz, 22. Claudia Cano, 23. Martina Marquez Alpanel.

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J
JW 2 hours ago
Razor has an about turn on All Blacks eligibility rules

Yep, another problem!


I think he would have, in the instance I mentioned, which wasn’t changing anything other than correctly applying todays eligibility quidelines. Which is an arbitrary construct, as the deal likely would have played out completely differently, but I just ‘allowed’ him to have 1 year sabbatically for his ‘loyalty’, rather than having some arbitrary number like 70 caps required.


So if Richie had a 3 year deal, and the first year he was allowed to use him still, I don’t think he’d really not transition to Dmac being his main 10, as he’s obviously the only one he can use for the following two years, therefore likely his only real option for the WC (very hard for Richie to overtake him in such a short time). Richie would purely be a security net in a situation like I proposition where there are only small changes to the eligibility.


The system is not working well enough though, as we don’t have the Rugby Championship or World Cup trophies, do we? Well on that last question, that’s all I’m really saying but I would not believe a word this author says, so it’s entirely a ‘what if’ discussion, but if the author is right and now they are actually going to be more flexible, I think that’s great yeah. Ultimately thought I think those two players were an anomaly signing their contracts and futures up so far ahead, especially of when they were performing. Both jumped at the opportunity of good contracts when their All Black prospects weren’t looking that bright.

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