World Rugby has launched new strategies and models to boost the women’s game globally. A new annual competition and aligned calendar starting in 2023 have been announced by the sport’s governing body.
The new annual competition model, called WXV, is going to be a three-tiered competition that will feature 16 nations and hosted within a new September-October international window.
This is to underscore World Rugby’s commitment to raise the competitiveness of the women’s game on the road to an expanded 16-team Rugby World Cup 2025 and to increase commercial and fan engagement opportunities.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said this is a landmark moment for the sport. “By establishing a unified international 15s calendar and introducing WXV we are creating a platform for the women’s international teams to compete in more consistent, competitive and sustainable competitions at regional and global level. At the same time, we are also growing the profile, fanbase and commercial revenue, generating opportunities for women’s rugby through the new Women in Rugby commercial programme,” he said.
Teams will qualify into the WXV competition courtesy of their finishing positions within their respective existing annual regional competitions. For Uganda, this will be the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup that is played annually on the African continent.
Watch how it will work here:
WXV will be supported by an initial £6.4 million World Rugby investment in its first two years and then a new dedicated Women in Rugby commercial programme.
