WXV: New Zealand to host England and Wales in inaugural series

1 year ago 27

New Zealand bushed England to triumph the World Cup successful November

England and Wales women volition caput to New Zealand successful the autumn aft satellite champions the Black Ferns were confirmed arsenic hosts of WXV1.

The caller three-tiered planetary women's tourney starts successful October contempt clashing with the men's World Cup.

England women volition instrumentality to New Zealand for the archetypal clip since losing last year's World Cup final.

Scotland volition caput to South Africa to play successful WXV2 but Ireland's basal for WXV3 has yet to beryllium named.

The contention is the archetypal planetary Test contention extracurricular of World Cups, thing agelong considered but ne'er achieved successful men's rugby.

Despite the clash with the men's World Cup successful France, World Rugby's manager of women's rugby Sally Horrox said WXV had to motorboat this year.

"We could not hold immoderate longer - we felt a existent motivation and sporting responsibility," she said.

The tourney volition treble the fig of existing Test fixtures for the bulk of competing nations, with a full of 18 countries playing crossed the 3 tiers.

England, Wales and France person each qualified for the top-tier WXV1 aft finishing successful the apical 3 of the Women's Six Nations.

They volition play the apical 3 sides from the Pacific Fours contention that involves New Zealand, Australia, USA and Canada and volition reason successful July.

Matches successful WXV1 volition beryllium played connected the weekends of 21 and 28 October and 4 November.

The last play was pushed backmost to debar clashing with the men's World Cup last connected 28 October.

Only Scotland are confirmed successful WXV2 truthful far, matches for which volition beryllium played connected the weekends of 14, 21 and 28 October successful Cape Town. Only Ireland person qualified truthful acold for WXV3.

Dates and venues for WXV1 should soon beryllium confirmed by the New Zealand Rugby Union, with games taking spot astir the country.

Broadcast deals are successful the pipeline and World Rugby hopes antithetic clip zones volition alteration them to debar nonstop contention with the men's World Cup.

World Rugby is successful precocious talks astir the hosts for 2024 arsenic it builds towards an expanded 16-team women's World Cup successful England successful 2025.