The WXV is back for its second year, and the international, three-tiered competition has released its competition dates, locations and qualification pathways. Canada (Tier 1), South Africa (Tier 2) and Dubai (Tier 3) will host six national teams apiece, and everyone will compete on the same three weekends in late September-mid-October. [Lead photo: Johan Rynners – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images]
2024 WXV SCHEDULE
Round 1: Friday-Sunday, Sept. 27-29
Round 2: Friday-Sunday, Oct. 4-6
Round 3: Friday-Sunday, Oct. 11-13
2024 WXV LOCATIONS
Tier 1: Canada
Tier 2: South Africa
Tier 3: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
WXV returns for 2024 🔥
Introducing your hosts 👇WXV pic.twitter.com/ZSn2sEZdSQ
— WXV (@WXVRugby) February 28, 2024
“The tournament plays a fundamental role in helping us to grow women’s rugby and provides more opportunities for players, showcases the game to more fans and inspires more girls to play,” World Rugby Chief of Women’s Rugby Sally Horrox said. “Our hosts all share our ambition to take the tournament to the next level and further strengthen the development of the women’s game.
“It’s crucial that teams get sufficient preparation and game-time ahead of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, and WXV is designed to help to provide this for players and coaches alike,” Horrox added. “I saw firsthand just how much the competitiveness grew across the tournament last year and I look forward to the same again.”
The USA Women’s National Team competed in Tier 2 in 2023, the first iteration of the WXV, beating Samoa and losing to Scotland and Italy. In order for the Eagles to feature in Tier 1 this fall, they need to finish in the top three of the impending Pacific Four (Pac 4) series, which involves the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. A fourth-place finish affords a spot in Tier 2.
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The WXV will award berths to Rugby World Cup 2025 and will also pause next year so as not to impede RWC preparations. The following is pulled from the WXV Format page:
Four teams have already booked their place at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, courtesy of reaching the semi-finals of the previous edition, played in New Zealand in 2022. They are world champions New Zealand, Guinness Women’s Six Nations and WXV champions England, Canada and France.
A further six teams will qualify as winners of six regional tournaments in 2024 (Asia Rugby Women’s Championship, Guinness Women’s Six Nations, Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship, Pacific Four Series, Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and Sudamerica play-off).
The final six spots will go to the highest finishing WXV teams who have not yet qualified through RWC 2021 and the regional tournaments outlined above.Â
Who will feature in WXV?
With qualifying beginning in March, check out the pathways below 👇 pic.twitter.com/wJBBNpqfJ5
— WXV (@WXVRugby) February 28, 2024