WXV Global Series Challenger 2026 preview

Nine matches, one city, three-triple headers. There’s a new look to WXV with the Global Series Challenger about to begin in Hong Kong, where six teams take their first steps towards qualifying for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029.

While the world’s top 12 sides play matches over the next two months via a home and away touring system, negotiated by individual unions, Fiji, Spain, Samoa, Hong Kong China, Netherlands and Brazil will join together for a feast of rugby over the next three weekends.

The new format replaces the previous three-tier WXV tournaments, and, with vital world ranking points on the line as the qualification period for the Women’s Rugby World Cup begins, every match matters. Each team will play three matches with the title decided by cumulative points.

Brazil

The Yaras will follow their first ever appearance at a Women’s Rugby World Cup with their maiden showing in a WXV tournament, which, while significant for the growth of the game in Brazil is also a bonus for all of us as spectators; the colour, flair and pure joy Brazil brought to the tournament last year was something to savour.

16 of the squad which played at last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup return to the side while 11 of the Brazilan team have also played at the Olympics, including Thalita Costa, the identical twin of sevens superstar Thalia.

The absence of Bianca Silva, who scored their famous first ever World Cup try against France is a big loss, but the likes of Luiza Campos and Raquel Kochhann provide significant leadership experience alongside Eshyllen Coimbra up front. All bar loosehead prop Emi Karine, who plays for Blagnac in France, are based in Brazil.

At 25 in the world, Brazil is the lowest ranked of the six teams, and with matches against Hong Kong China, Netherlands and Spain this will be a great test of how they have progressed since last year’s tournament .

Their win over Colombia in July 2024 to qualify for RWC, after which they surged up the world rankings, showed what Brazil is capable of. More matches at this level is an absolute must if the Yaras are to continue their growth on the world stage.

Fiji

Fiji go in to the tournament as slight favourites and begin with a blockbuster match up against Spain. Coming off a win over Japan last week, which also saw them rise to a new high ranking of 12 in the world, the untapped potential of Fiji we’ve seen in the last two World Cups might now be starting to show the consistency needed to regularly compete at the top level.

In a two-Test series against South Africa in August, Fiji showed the ability to adapt and learn quickly – a 43 point defeat in the first test was narrowed to just a seven point deficit in the second.

New head coach Willie Walker seems to be the right fit for Fijiana. Walker, who comes into the role having just won a third straight Super Rugby Aupiki title with the Blues, is a laid back character but has a deep understanding of Pasifika culture, and an ability to build a strong sense of belief in his sides while also growing the tactical acumen of his players.

All but a handful of this squad play together week-in-week-out for the Drua, while a close collab with the national sevens team offers Walker plenty of firepower and a group of players which has built depth of experience at a high level in the past few years.

Utility back Josivini Naihamu comes into the WXV Global Series Challenger in top form after standing out in just her second season with the Drua where she won try of the year, players’ player of the year and overall player of the year. Fiji plays Hong Kong China and Netherlands in rounds two and three.

Hong Kong China

A massive opportunity awaits for Hong Kong China as they begin their path towards returning to Women’s Rugby World Cup after missing out on qualifying in both 2021 [played in 2022] and 2025. In 2017 they made history by becoming the first Hong Kong China team to qualify for a World Cup.

With matches against Brazil, Fiji and Spain over three weekends, the WXV Global Series Challenger not only offers the rare chance for them to play three different styles of opponent but also their first test matches on home soil since 2024.

HKCRU is a well-resourced union which often puts its hand up to host major events and has a thriving domestic scene, but owing to the scheduling of the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship in the past two years, home games have fallen off the calendar for the women’s XVs side.

Currently ranked 16th in the world, the XVs team is in a slight state of flux and has had a period of instability in the coaching ranks. With the Asian Games to be held in October, interim coach Tumua Ioane will be without a handful of regulars who are instead committed to the full-time sevens programme. But with absence comes opportunity.

While five players remain from that historic 2017 RWC squad, the unavailability of players like Natasha Olson-Thorne and Ka Yan Chong means there’s a fresh feeling and a sense of optimism about a new era ahead.

Roshini Turner will bring experience and work rate at lock, while Sabay Lynam is an exciting, dynamic outside back. As if playing at home for the first time in two years wasn’t incentive enough, front-rower Lee Ka Shun, Hong Kong China’s most capped player, has said this will be her last her tournament… although she has said that before!

Netherlands

The rich history of rugby in the Netherlands is ready for a new chapter. The nation which played in the first women’s test match in 1982 and hosted the Women’s World Cup in 1998 has been on the periphery of the rise of the women’s game in recent years.

With increasing exposure to regular internationals and athletes who have gained experience in various leagues, the Oranje Dames will be a fascinating team to keep an eye on over the next few seasons.

They were second to Spain in Rugby Europe earlier this year and finished third overall when they played in what was formerly tier three of WXV in 2024.

Notably they secured an 8-8 draw against Samoa in that tournament; the Dutch jumped out to an early lead before Leive Stallman charged down a conversion to deny Samoa the win on full-time. They face Samoa again in their opening match at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground before taking on Brazil and Fiji.

Lock Linde van der Velden, the long-time captain of the side is the star name in the Dutch side owing to her time playing for Exeter Chiefs, while coach Gareth Gilbert will finish up after the tournament having spent 15 years in various roles with Rugby Netherlands, adding extra incentive for his team over the next fortnight.

Samoa

While it’s the end of a coaching era for the Netherlands, a new one is about to begin for Manusina. Fuimaono Bella Milo, who played at two Women’s Rugby World Cups and in the sevens jersey for Samoa takes over as head coach having served as an assistant during the tournament in England last year. It’s an inspired choice by the union.

There are four uncapped players in the squad with significant turnover since Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025; just 10 players return and only two of the those are in the forwards. But that’s also offset by the return of experienced lock/loosie Easter Savelio, who missed the Women’s Rugby World Cup with a serious knee injury.

Add in the likes of Fa’asua Makisi, Michelle Curry, Ana Afuie-Falefa and impressive young hooker Faith Nonutunu and Milo has a strong enough core to start building from.

Given the gifts Samoa has given the rugby world over decades in the form of players with Pasifika heritage gracing the global stage, it’s easy to forget that this is a tiny nation of just over 200,000 people, with very limited resources for its national team. Yet here is Manusina again, ranked 15, ready to take its rugby to the world again.

If Samoa can string three games together they can push the more fancied sides but this is also the chance for Milo to rebuild after the energy and excitement they brought to the Women’s Rugby World Cup. Samoa will play the Netherlands, Spain and Hong Kong China.

Spain

Rugby Europe Women’s Championship winners Spain are starting to make some inroads in the upper echelons of the game again after the long rebuild following their axing from the Women’s Six Nations almost two decades ago.

In the eyes of many, Spain is the sleeping giants of the game across both men’s and women’s, sevens and XVs and Las Leonas get the chance to prove it over the next few weeks.

Their opening match of the tournament against Fiji could go a long way to deciding the WXV Global Series Challenger title – it’s a heck of a way to start the event – and will give both sides the chance to really see where they’re at. Spain is ranked 14th compared to Fiji’s 12th. They will play Samoa in round two before finishing off against Brazil.

In winning the Rugby Europe Women’s Championship title Spain racked up plenty of points and only conceded four tries across their three matches, showcasing their multiple attacking threats and harder edge, led by the likes of evergreen lock Lourdes Alameda. Her match up against Fiji’s Jade Coates in the opener will be one to enjoy.

Of course, no piece about Las Leonas is complete without a mention of Claudia Peña Higaldo, one of the most special talents in the game who could command a place in any side.

Added to that the form of returning halfback Anne Fernandez de Corres who, in a team laden with Wallarooos, was named Brumbies player of the year, and Spain could be primed to put everyone on notice again.