World Rugby announces women’s WXV series to launch in New Zealand and South Africa

World Rugby has officially launched its new women’s international competition concept, WXV, with New Zealand and South Africa named as the inaugural hosts.

Part of a full overhaul of the women’s international calendar starting in 2023, the announcement comes after rugby union’s world governing body first detailed plans for a new three-tier 15s competition back in March 2021.

Commencing in October, WXV aims to raise the profile and competitiveness of women’s 15s by providing a global platform for the sport in between World Cups.

The series will double the number of annual international fixtures for most competing teams, combining with World Rugby’s ‘Accelerate’ program to raise across the game.

With a distinct brand identity also unveiled, WXV will have its own platform to connect with women's rugby fans and new audiences and set the tournament apart competing brands.

Fresh off the back of hosting a record-breaking Rugby World Cup 2021 where the Black Ferns were crowned champions, New Zealand will welcome the world’s top teams in the six-team top level WXV 1 across three match weekends on 21st and 28th October and 4th November.

Cape Town in South Africa will play host to the six-team second level WXV 2 with matches being played across the weekends of 14th, 21st and 28th October.

Both competitions will be played in a cross-pool format and the match schedule and ticketing information will be announced in due course.

England, France and Wales have so far secured their place in WXV 1. Scotland have booked a place in WXV 2, and Ireland are confirmed for WXV 3. Italy will play-off against Spain to determine the final European representatives in WXV 2 and WXV 3.

The World Rugby Pacific Four Series 2023 will determine the remaining three teams in WXV 1 and one team in WXV 2 with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and USA contesting the competition featuring the top two teams in Oceania and North America.

The remaining places will be determined via regional qualifiers, starting in May with competitions in Africa, Asia and Oceania being played in Madagascar, Kazakhstan and Australia, respectively, while Brazil and Colombia will meet in a two-leg play-off to determine South America’s qualifier for WXV 3.

The third level WXV 3 dates will mirror the same weekends as WXV 2 with World Rugby stating the host will be named once the participating team picture becomes clearer “in order to maximise attendance, reach and impact”.

Introducing WXV, World Rugby Chief of Women’s Rugby, Sally Horrox explained “WXV is the flagship of the competitions pillar of our accelerating the global development of women in rugby strategy. It is more than a world-class competition, it is a statement of intent, a vehicle to supercharge the reach, competitiveness and value of elite women’s rugby and growing rugby more broadly, projecting the sport to new audiences in new markets.

“We are on a three-year sprint to an expanded Rugby World Cup 2025 in England and WXV will ensure that the world’s top teams will have access to an unprecedented and sustainable level of annual fixtures and a transparent competition pathway for all that will boost performance.

“In addition, our relationship with participating teams is more than simply an event owner. We will be a partner, a supporter and investor, with our ‘Accelerate’ programme helping unions advance the women’s game on and off the field, not just in the short term at Rugby World Cup 2025, but as a long-term commitment through to a transformative (United States) Rugby World Cup in 2033.”

World Rugby Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont added “we made a pledge at a spectacular Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand to accelerate the advancement of the women’s game. Much progress is being made at rapid pace and today we are marking another milestone with confirmation of the dates and venues for the inaugural WXV competition.

“With women and girls leading our strategy to grow the sport on a global basis, this competition will increase the reach and impact of the sport and drive the overall competitiveness of women’s international rugby as we look forward to an expanded 16-team Rugby World Cup 2025 in England and subsequent Rugby World Cups in Australia in 2029 and USA in 2033.”

WXV is being supported by partners Mastercard, Capgemini and Gallagher, with World Rugby also injecting multi-million-pound investment funding over an initial two-year period in the sprint to an expanded 16-team Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.

A full review will be undertaken in 2025 with all participants to ensure that, collectively, WXV continues to support high performance goals as World Rugby looks to define a sustainable global calendar for the international game.

Lower image: Fans at Auckland's Eden Park during the Rugby World Cup 2021. Credit: Eden Park/Photosport NZ.