2026 WXV

Last updated

2026 WXV
Logo WXV.svg
Tournament details
HostVarious (WXV Global Series)
TBD (WXV Emerging Nations)
DatesSeptember – October 2026
Teams18 (12 in Global Series, 6 in Emerging Nations)
Website wxvrugby.com
2024

2026 WXV will be the third edition of WXV, a series of Women's international rugby union fixtures for national teams organised by World Rugby and national unions. It is the first edition under the revamped WXV Global Series format, which moves the top 12 nations to a home-and-away touring model while six emerging nations play at a single host tournament funded by World Rugby. [1] [2]

Contents

Format

The WXV Global Series is fully aligned with the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup qualification pathway, offering clear progression opportunities for teams across both levels and all six of World Rugby's regions. [1] [3]

The top 12 teams compete in home-and-away touring fixtures arranged between member unions, each playing between four and six matches in the September–October Test window. Unions retain domestic commercial rights to their home fixtures. Teams ranked 13–18 compete at a single destination funded by World Rugby, with the specific venue yet to be confirmed as of March 2026. [1] [2]

WXV Global Series

2026 WXV Global Series
Logo WXV.svg
Tournament details
HostVarious
Dates September — October 2026
Teams
2024

The 2026 WXV Global Series features home-and-away touring fixtures arranged between member unions across the September–October international window. [1] [2]

Participating nations

NationCompetitionRegional AssociationWorld Rugby Ranking
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Pacific Four Series Oceania
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Pacific Four Series North America
Flag of England.svg  England Six Nations Europe
Flag of France.svg  France Six NationsEurope
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Six NationsEurope
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Six NationsEurope
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Asia Rugby Women's Championship Asia
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Pacific Four SeriesOceania
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Six NationsEurope
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Rugby Africa Women's Cup Africa
Flag of the United States.svg  United States Pacific Four SeriesNorth America
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Six NationsEurope

Fixtures

Fixtures are arranged directly between member unions.

Confirmed test series
HomeAwayNo.DatesRef.
Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 112 September [4] [5]
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 119 September
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 126 September
TBCFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2TBC (12–26 September) [6]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 210–17 October [6]
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Flag of France.svg  France 317–31 October [7]

England home series – September

England host Australia, Canada and New Zealand across three venues in September 2026. [4] [5]

12 September 2026
15:00
England  Flag of England.svgvFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
CorpAcq Stadium, Salford
19 September 2026
15:00
England  Flag of England.svgvFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Sandy Park, Exeter
26 September 2026
15:00
England  Flag of England.svgvFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Twickenham Stadium, London

Australia – Northern Hemisphere tour (September)

The Wallaroos will play three Tests in the Northern Hemisphere in September 2026, including one against England on 12 September. The remaining fixtures are yet to be confirmed. [6] [8]

Australia vs Scotland – October

The two-Test series will be Scotland's first-ever tour of Australia. [6]

10 October 2026
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svgvFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
17 October 2026
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svgvFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland

New Zealand vs France – October

The three-Test series between New Zealand and France will take place in October 2026. [7] [9]

17 October 2026
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svgvFlag of France.svg  France
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
24 October 2026
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svgvFlag of France.svg  France
Okara Park, Whangārei
31 October 2026
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svgvFlag of France.svg  France
Te Kaha, Christchurch

WXV Emerging Nations

2026 WXV Emerging Nations
Logo WXV.svg
Tournament details
DatesSeptember — October 2026
Teams
2024

The 2026 WXV Emerging Nations will take place at a central location, which as of March 2026 had not been confirmed by World Rugby. The competition is fully funded by World Rugby. [1] [2]

Participating nations

NationCompetitionRegional AssociationWorld Rugby Ranking
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil N/a [a] South America
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Oceania Rugby Women's Championship Oceania
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong China Asia Rugby Women's ChampionshipAsia
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Rugby Europe Women's Championship Europe
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa Oceania Rugby Women's ChampionshipOceania
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Rugby Europe Women's ChampionshipEurope

See also

Notes

  1. South America does not have a competition structure for their national women's XV teams

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "World Rugby and 18 national unions launch landmark WXV Global Series". World Rugby. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Orchard, Sara; Telfer, Alastair (18 September 2025). "WXV Global Series: Women's home nations gain control of autumn games". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  3. "World Rugby announces launch of WXV Global Series". Rugby Football Union. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Red Roses' WXV Global Series home fixtures announced". Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  5. 1 2 Latham-Coyle, Harry (23 March 2026). "Red Roses to host New Zealand, Canada and Australia in WXV Global Series". The Independent. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Wallaroos set for historic 2026 Test season". Rugby Australia. 10 December 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Black Ferns set for trois-Test showdown as France returns to Aotearoa in 2026". All Blacks. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  8. "'The road to 2029 begins now': Wallaroos confirm 10-Test schedule for 2026". Rugby Pass. 10 December 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  9. "Black Ferns to host France in three-test series as 2026 home test schedule confirmed". New Zealand Herald. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2026.