WXV Global Series 2026: Week 3 talking points

We may well be heading into a two-week WXV Global Series hiatus — albeit with Spain’s encounter with South Africa in the middle — but there is plenty of time to fawn over the weekend’s action.

Over the past couple of days, we saw teams get back to winning ways, restore unbeaten streaks and even produce last-minute drama. And all of it was brilliant.

Here are three talking points from the third weekend of WXV Global Series 2026 action…

The Black Ferns did not leave wondering

It is interesting what can happen in a week. At the full-time whistle of Canada’s draw with the Red Roses at Sandy Park, the North Americans were questioned about their decision to kick the ball out. Immediately, Canada head coach Kévin Rouet defended the decision, citing the fact that his team had spent 20 minutes defending on their own 22m.

Seven days later, it was the Black Ferns camped in their own 22m with the clock in the red and the scoreboard level at 19-19. Instead of settling for a draw against the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 winners, Whitney Hansen’s team decided to run it. Amy du Plessis’ pass was ultimately picked off by Zoe Harrison, who made amends for her missed penalty just moments later and sent the crowd of almost 60,000 at Allianz Stadium into absolute pandemonium.

Of course, that moment is absolute heartbreak for Du Plessis and her team. But it told us something about this Black Ferns team and their new identity under Hansen.

The way in which New Zealand have played their rugby has been impressive, especially in their first year with a new head coach. It is one of the reasons we have also seen so many players thrive at Test level. Come next year’s British & Irish Lions Women tour and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029, you can expect them to cause immense problems on the world stage.

Wallaroos can now target Scotland whitewash

Up to seventh in the World Rugby rankings after their 30-10 win against Scotland in a rainy Edinburgh at the weekend, the Wallaroos must now target a three-win Test series against the same opponents.

Fixtures in Sydney and Canberra are coming in October. We had already seen flashes of what the Wallaroos are capable of in losses to England and France, even if both of those defeats were hugely frustrating affairs.

Against this Scotland team, which has known no end of flux since their quarter-final exit at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, Australia have a chance to win three matches in a row for the first time since their 2024 WXV 2 campaign.

A team that has made no secret of its desire to build greater squad depth and quality between now and a home Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2029, Australia will see a statement Test whitewash against Scotland as an excellent benchmark.

Having proved they are capable once, with a brilliant second-half display on Saturday, now it is time to back it up.

Eagles are absolutely on the rise

Two wins in two for Jack Hanratty’s USA Women’s Eagles in Europe. A first three-game win streak since 2006 — thanks to a win against South Africa in July and WXV Global Series wins against Ireland and Wales. Freda Tafuna has emerged as a Test rugby star. Life in red, white and blue looks pretty good right now.

That victory against Ireland will undoubtedly be the most impressive part of their European tour. At one stage 19 points down in Dublin, the Eagles found a way to stay in the game, dominate and get the job done.

In Cardiff one week later, the USA impressed in a slightly different way. This time around, it was their defensive resolve that did all the talking as they held Sean Lynn’s team at bay for the entire second half, while Tafuna’s 52nd-minute try handed the visitors a 26-24 victory.

What comes next will be extremely interesting for the USA. In October, they will play three Tests: two against Italy — an Azzurre side that has already blown hot and cold in September — and one against the Red Roses at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey.

Should the USA win their pair of games against Italy, confidence will be sky-high for when England roll into Harrison, New Jersey.

It has taken 20 years to win three matches in a row. It has been 22 years since they won five games on the bounce. That streak took place across a two-year span. Maybe, with the wind in their sails, seven matches in a row is possible. For anyone wondering, the last time that feat was achieved was in 1998.

2026 WXV Global Series results | September

Week 1

• England 48-15 Australia
• Canada 64-26 Scotland
• New Zealand 28-14 France

Week 2

• Wales 50-19 South Africa
• Italy 55-21 Japan
• England 26-26 Canada
• France 29-26 Australia
• Scotland 14-66 New Zealand
• Ireland 36-40 USA

Week 3

• Italy 29-41 South Africa
• England 26-19 New Zealand
• Wales 24-26 USA
• Scotland 10-30 Australia
• France 21-5 Canada
• Ireland 31-24 Japan

2026 WXV Global Series fixtures | October

Week 4

• Friday 16 October, Canada v England, 00:00am (GMT+1)
• Saturday 17 October, Australia v Scotland, 03:00 (GMT+1)
• Saturday 17 October, New Zealand v France, 03:05 (GMT+1)
• Saturday 17 October, USA v Italy, 23:00 (GMT+1)

Week 5

• Friday 23 October, Australia v Scotland, 09:45 (GMT+1)
• Friday 23 October, Japan v Wales, 16:00 (GMT+1)
• Friday 23 October, Canada v England, 00:00 (GMT+1)
• Saturday 24 October, New Zealand v France, 03:05 (GMT+1)
• Saturday 24 October, South Africa v Ireland, 14:00 (GMT+1)
• Saturday 24 October, USA v Italy, 21:15 (GMT+1)

Week 6

• Friday 30 October, USA v England, 21:15 (GMT+0)
• Saturday 31 October, Japan v Wales, 07:00 (GMT+0)
• Saturday 31 October, New Zealand v France, 08:15am (GMT+0)
• Saturday 31 October, South Africa v Ireland, 11:00 (GMT+0)