2023 WXV

WXV 2023
Tournament details
Host New Zealand (WXV 1)
 South Africa (WXV 2)
 United Arab Emirates (WXV 3)
Dates13 October — 4 November 2023
Teams18 (6 in 3 divisions each)
Websitewxvrugby.com
2024 →

The 2023 WXV was the first edition of WXV, a women's international rugby union group 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

[edit]

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]

Qualification

[edit]
  • Qualified teams by division:
  •   WXV 1   WXV 2   WXV 3
WXV 1 WXV 2 WXV 3
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]

Play-offs

[edit]

WXV 3 final qualification

[edit]
5 July 2023
15:00 COT (UTC−5)
Colombia 24–23
[N 1]		 Brazil
Try: Álvarez (2) 15' c, 40' +2 c
Gutiérrez 21' c
Con: Arzuaga (3/3) 16', 22', 40' +3
Pen: Arzuaga (1/1) 55'		ReportTry: Santini 34' m
Gomes 45' c
Valente 74' c
Con: Valente (1/2) 46'
Pen: Valente (2/2) 12', 67'
Estadio Cincuentenario, Medellín
Referee: Federico Solari (Argentina)
9 July 2023
15:00 COT (UTC−5)
Brazil 19–30
[N 1]		 Colombia
Try: Campos 6' m
Penalty try (2) 76', 80' +1		ReportTry: Soto (3) 36' m, 47' m, 52' c
Mestra 70' c
Con: Arzuaga (2/4) 53', 71'
Pen: Arzuaga (2/2) 4', 19'
Estadio Cincuentenario, Medellín
Referee: Federico Solari (Argentina)

WXV 2/WXV 3 play-off match

[edit]
22 July 2023
19:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Italy 23–0
[N 2]		 Spain
Try: Giordano 35' m
D'Incà 40' +2 m
Vecchini 60' m
Granzotto 71' m
Pen: Sillari (1/1) 3'		Report
Stadio Walter Beltrametti [it], Piacenza
Attendance: 1,035
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)

Notes

  1. ^ a b Colombia win 54–42 and qualify for WXV 3
  2. ^ Italy are placed in WXV 2 and Spain in WXV 3.

Match officials

[edit]

World Rugby named the following 18 referees, one assistant referee and seven television match officials:[21][22]

Squads

[edit]
Main article: 2023 WXV squads

WXV 1

[edit]
2023 WXV 1
Tournament details
Host New Zealand
Dates20 October — 4 November 2023
Teams Australia
 Canada
 England
 France
 New Zealand
 Wales
Final positions
Champions England (1st title)
Runner-up Canada
Tournament statistics
Matches played9
Tries scored69 (7.67 per match)
Top scorer(s)Canada Sophie de Goede (28)
Most triesEngland Lark Atkin-Davies (5)
2024 →

The 2023 WXV 1 was staged in New Zealand between 20 October and 4 November.[23][24][25] The first round took place at Wellington's Regional Stadium, the second round at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, and the final round at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland.[a] [23][25][26] England, France and Wales played matches against Australia, Canada and New Zealand.[24][27]

2023 WXV 1 table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1  England (C) 3 3 0 0 120 31 +89 18 5 3 0 15
2  Canada 3 2 0 1 83 87 −4 12 12 2 0 10
3  Australia 3 2 0 1 61 81 −20 9 12 2 0 10
4  New Zealand (H) 3 1 0 2 99 58 +41 16 8 1 1 6
5  France 3 1 0 2 58 75 −17 7 10 0 0 4
6  Wales 3 0 0 3 48 137 −89 7 22 0 1 1
Source: [28]
(C) Champions; (H) Host

Round 1

[edit]
20 October 2023
19:00 NZDT (UTC+13)
(1 BP) England 42–7 Australia
Try: Botterman 5' c
Wyrwas 18' c
M. Packer (2) 30' c, 49' c
Breach 38' c
Jones 57' c
Con: Aitchison (6/6) 6', 18', 31', 38', 49', 58'		ReportTry: Marsters 54' c
Con: Dallinger (1/1) 55'
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Lauren Jenner (Italy/New Zealand)
21 October 2023
16:00 NZDT (UTC+13)
(1 BP) Canada 42–22 Wales
Try: de Goede 4' c
Svoboda 31' c
Grant 37' c
Hunt 50' c
Boag 67' c
Lachance 78' c
Con: de Goede (6/6) 5', 32', 38', 51', 67', 80'		ReportTry: Phillips 8' c
G. Evans 39' c
Callender 74' m
Con: Bevan (2/3) 9', 40'
Pen: Bevan (1/1) 28'
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
21 October 2023
19:00 NZDT (UTC+13)
(1 BP) New Zealand 17–18 France
Try: Mikaele-Tu'u 11' c
Vaha'akolo 72' c
Con: Holmes (1/1) 12'
Demant (1/1) 73'
Pen: Holmes (1/1) 56'		ReportTry: Boulard 5' c
Banet 16' m
Con: Bourgeois (1/2) 7'
Pen: Bourgeois (2/2) 34', 45'
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)

Round 2

[edit]
27 October 2023
19:00 NZDT (UTC+13)
(1 BP) England 45–12 Canada
Try: Kildunne 8' c
Atkin-Davies (4) 37' c, 40' +1 c, 51' c, 57' m
Breach 69' m
MacDonald 71' c
Con: Aitchison (1/1) 9'
Rowland (4/6) 38', 43', 52', 72'		ReportTry: Tuttosi 31' m
Farries 44' c
Con: de Goede (1/2) 45'
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)
28 October 2023
16:00 NZDT (UTC+13)
(1 BP) New Zealand 70–7 Wales
Try: Paul (3) 12' m, 53' c, 80' m
Tui (4) 15' c, 20' m, 25' m, 28' m
du Plessis 46' c
Vaha'akolo 61' m
Demant 70' c
Jenkins (2) 73' m, 77' c
Con: Holmes (5/12) 16', 47', 54', 71', 78'		ReportTry: Fleming 57' c
Con: Wilkins (1/1) 58'
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Referee: Amber McLachlan (Australia)
28 October 2023
19:00 NZDT (UTC+13)
France 20–29 Australia (1 BP)
Try: Boulard 14' c
Riffonneau 74' m
Vernier 81' m
Con: Bourgeois (1/3) 15'
Pen: Bourgeois (1/1) 36'		ReportTry: Karpani (3) 3' c, 51' c, 70' c
Friedrichs 24' m
Con: Dallinger (2/3) 4', 53'
McKenzie (1/1) 71'
Pen: McKenzie (1/1) 62'
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)

Round 3

[edit]
3 November 2023
19:00 NZDT (UTC+13)
(1 BP) Australia 25–19 Wales (1 BP)
Try: Stewart 16' m
Karpani 52' m
Cramer 67' c
Wong 73' m
Con: Dallinger (1/4) 68'
Pen: Dallinger (1/1) 34'		ReportTry: Phillips 28' c
Penalty try 48'
K. Jones 77' m
Con: Bevan (1/2) 30'
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
4 November 2023
16:00 NZDT (UTC+13)
France 20–29 Canada (1 BP)
Try: Bourdon Sansus 14' c
M. Ménager 57' c
Con: Bourgeois (2/2) 15', 58'
Pen: Bourgeois (2/2) 2', 73'		ReportTry: Tuttosi 35' c
Scurfield 44' c
Holtkamp 50' m
Bermudez 66' c
Con: de Goede (3/4) 36', 35', 68'
Pen: de Goede (1/1) 76'
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)
4 November 2023
19:00 NZDT (UTC+13)
(1 BP) England 33–12 New Zealand
Try: Matthews 4' c
Atkin-Davies 12' c
Bern 23' m
Talling 55' c
Aldcroft 69' c
Con: Aitchison (4/5) 5', 13', 56', 70'		ReportTry: Simon 39' c
Vaha'akolo 49' m
Con: Holmes (1/1) 40'
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)

WXV 2

[edit]
2023 WXV 2
Tournament details
Host South Africa
Dates13 — 28 October 2023
Teams Italy
 Japan
 Samoa
 Scotland
 South Africa
 United States
Final positions
Champions Scotland (1st title)
Runner-up Italy
Tournament statistics
Matches played9
Tries scored61 (6.78 per match)
Top scorer(s)South Africa Libbie Janse van Rensburg (38)
Most triesItaly Aura Muzzo (3)
Scotland Lana Skeldon (3)
South Africa Libbie Janse van Rensburg (3)
2024 →

The 2023 WXV 2 was staged in South Africa between 13 and 28 October.[29] The first round took place at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch, while the second and final rounds were hosted by Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.[29][30][31] Each round featured a Friday double-header, followed by a Saturday match.[31] Samoa, Scotland and Italy played matches against Japan, South Africa and the United States.[29][30]

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.

2023 WXV 2 table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1  Scotland (C) 3 3 0 0 93 38 +55 15 5 3 0 15
2  Italy 3 3 0 0 94 41 +53 14 6 3 0 15
3  South Africa (H) 3 1 0 2 68 74 −6 9 11 1 0 5
4  Japan 3 1 0 2 54 76 −22 8 11 1 0 5
5  United States 3 1 0 2 58 80 −22 9 13 1 0 5
6  Samoa (R) 3 0 0 3 43 101 −58 6 15 1 0 1
Source: [28]
(C) Champions; (H) Host; (R) Regional position is relegated

Round 1

[edit]
13 October 2023
14:00 SAST (UTC+2)
(1 BP) Italy 28–15 Japan
Try: Rigoni 4' c
Muzzo (2) 30' c, 46' c
Granzotto 52' c
Con: Sillari (4/4) 5', 31', 47', 53'		ReportTry: Matsumura (2) 20' m, 80' +2 m
Nduka 55' m
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Kat Roche (United States)
13 October 2023
16:30 SAST (UTC+2)
(1 BP) Scotland 31–17 South Africa
Try: Gallagher 24' m
Skeldon (2) 34' c, 43' m
Bartlett 56' c
Thomson 76' c
Con: Nelson (1/2) 35'
Smith (2/2) 57', 77'		ReportTry: Hele 28' c
Botes 64' c
Con: Janse van Rensburg (2/2) 29', 65'
Pen: Janse van Rensburg (1/1) 9'
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (New Zealand)
14 October 2023
14:00 SAST (UTC+2)
(1 BP) United States 36–26 Samoa (1 BP)
Try: Clapp 14' m
Hingano 20' c
Taufo'ou 40+2' m
Feury 41' c
Zackary 50' c
Johnson 57' m
Con: Cantorna (3/6) 21', 42', 52'		ReportTry: Fiafia 7' c
Wright-Akeli (2) 32' c, 73' m
Filimaua 66' c
Con: Siataga (2/2) 8', 33'
Milo (1/2) 67'
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)