The 2023 WXV was the first edition of WXV, a women'sinternational rugby uniongroup tournament for senior national teams organised by World Rugby, and took place between 13 October and 4 November. The competition featured three divisions of six nations each, evenly divided across two pools. Participating teams were determined by regional competitions and play-in matches. Wellington, Dunedin, and Auckland in New Zealand hosted the first-division WXV 1. Stellenbosch and Cape Town in South Africa hosted WXV 2, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates hosted WXV 3.
England, Scotland and Ireland respectively won their competitions by all going unbeaten, while Scotland edged Italy by points difference.
Format
The competition was a group tournament featuring a league system of three divisions with six teams each: WXV 1, WXV 2 and WXV 3. Within each division, the six teams were evenly divided into two pools; teams played a match against each team in the other pool.[1][2] World Rugby tournaments typically award four competition points to teams for winning a match, two points for a draw, and no points for a loss. A bonus point is also awarded for scoring four or more tries in a match, or losing by seven or less match points.[3][4] Classification tiebreakers are decided in order of: the result of matches between tied teams, match points difference, tries difference, match points for, tries for, and world rank.[4][5] At the end of the competition, promotion and relegation between the regional position of the first-placed WXV 3 team and the regional position of the last-placed WXV 2 team will occur ahead of the next edition.[1][6] The last-placed team in WXV 3 will also play-off against the team with the highest world rank that did not participate in the competition, for a spot in WXV 3 in the next edition.[2][7] No promotion or relegation between WXV 1 and WXV 2 will take place in the inaugural season.[1][2]
World rank at the beginning of the competition in brackets
Participants in the competition were determined by regional competitions and play-offs matches staged in 2023. The top three teams of that year's Six Nations and Pacific Four series were placed in WXV 1. The fourth-placed team in both tournaments were placed in WXV 2 alongside that year's African, Asian and Oceanian champions; their runners-up were placed in WXV 3 alongside the sixth-placed Six Nations team.[7] The winners of a play-in between the fifth-placed Six Nations team and the European champions were placed in WXV 2, while the losers were placed in WXV 3 alongside the winners of a play-off between the only two active Sudamérica Rugby women's national teams, Brazil and Colombia.[8][9]
The South American play-off was a two-match series on 5 and 9 July in Medellín, Colombia.[10] It was preceded by the 2023 Americas Rugby Trophy, the first South American tournament for women's national teams sanctioned by World Rugby.[11] A match in the tournament between Brazil and Colombia was decided by a late try by Juliana Soto, helping Colombia win 18–15.[9] It was the closest Brazil had ever come to defeating Colombia up to that point.[12] In the opening match, Colombia scored thrice before half-time, including a double from Valentina Álvarez.[13] Brazil mounted a comeback in the second half though, as the pressure of two yellow cards on Colombia's defence helped facilitate a controversial late try by Lohana Valente; evidence that she had grounded the ball was unclear.[13][14] However, the attempt to convert it failed, and the match ended with Colombia leading the series by a single point.[14] The second match was decisive, with Colombia scoring four unanswered tries, including a hat-trick by Leidy Soto, who was recognised as critical in Colombia's victory.[15][16] Two late penalty tries for Brazil were not enough to overcome the 54–42 aggregate score, and thus Colombia earned qualification to WXV 3.[15][17]
The European play-off was a single match between Italy and Spain on 22 July in Piacenza, Italy.[8][18][19] Italy played their first game at the Stadio Walter Beltrametti[it] and made a comfortable four-try defeat of Spain, and consequently earning qualification to WXV 2.[18][20] Despite a notable offensive effort early in the second half, Spain failed to score a single point in the match, settling for a place in WXV 3.[18][20]
In order to win the title, England were required to avoid defeat, while New Zealand were required to win without England scoring any bonus points. As England won, they claimed their inaugural WXV 1 title.
This was New Zealand's largest loss at home, surpassing the 8-point deficit they lost by to England in 2017.
The relegation of Samoa, and Ireland's victory in WXV 3, means that Europe gain a place in WXV 2 for 2024 at the expense of Oceania. The fourth and fifth team in the 2024 Women's Six Nations Championship will both automatically qualify for WXV 2 in 2024, with the sixth placed team facing the winner of the Rugby Europe Women's Championship for a place in WXV 2. The winner and runner up in the Oceania Cup will both enter WXV 3 in 2024.
Sarah Bonar was originally named for Scotland at lock but withdrew before kick-off. She was replaced by Louise McMillan whose place on the bench was taken Eva Donaldson.
This was Italy's largest win over the United States.
In order to win the title, Italy were required to win with a bonus point and win by 25 points. As they won only by 22 points, Scotland claimed their inaugural WXV 2 title, their first major tournament win since the 2001 European Championship.
Ireland's victory, and the relegation of Samoa from WXV 2, means that Europe gain a place in WXV 2 for 2024 at the expense of Oceania. The fourth and fifth team in the 2024 Six Nations will both automatically qualify for WXV 2, with the sixth place team facing the winner of the Rugby Europe Women's Championship for a place in WXV 3. The winner and runner up in the Oceania Cup will both enter WXV 3 for 2024.
Yeva Bekker was originally named on the right wing for Kazakhstan, but withdrew before kick-off. She was replaced by Alyona Melnikova, whose place on the bench was taken by Kuralay Turalykova, who moved from 23 to 22. The 23 spot was then taken by Irina Balabina.
This was Ireland's largest ever win, surpassing their 73–3 defeat of Scotland in the 2015 Six Nations, and their inaugural score of 100 points.
This was Kazakhstan's largest defeat, surpassing their 82–0 defeat to England in the 2010 World Cup.
This was the first meeting between the two nations.
Clara Barrett (Ireland) made her international debut.
Nicole Fowley was named as fly-half for Ireland but withdrew before kick-off. She was replaced by Dannah O'Brien, whose place on the bench was taken by Clara Barrett.
Meg Collis was named on the bench for Ireland but also withdrew before kick-off, and was replaced by Sadhbh McGrath.
In order to win the title, Ireland were required to avoid the defeat by any margin. Spain meanwhile had to win to be any margin. As Ireland won, they claimed their first WXV 3 title, their first major tournament win since the 2015 Six Nations.
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New Zealand (WXV 1)
South Africa (WXV 2)
United Arab Emirates (WXV 3)
