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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. No promotion or relegation between WXV 1 and WXV 2 will take place in the inaugural season.
Qualification
WXV 1 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) WXV 2 (7) (8) (9) (10) (12) (15) WXV 3 (11) (13) (18) (19) (23) (25)
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. 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, and .
The South American play-off was a two-match series on 5 and 9 July in Medellín, Colombia. It was preceded by the 2023 Americas Rugby Trophy, the first South American tournament for women's national teams sanctioned by World Rugby. A match in the tournament between Brazil and Colombia was decided by a late try by Juliana Soto, helping Colombia win 18–15. It was the closest Brazil had ever come to defeating Colombia up to that point. In the opening match, Colombia scored thrice before half-time, including a double from Valentina Álvarez. 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. However, the attempt to convert it failed, and the match ended with Colombia leading the series by a single point. 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. Two late penalty tries for Brazil were not enough to overcome the 54–42 aggregate score, and thus Colombia earned qualification to WXV 3.
The European play-off was a single match between Italy and Spain on 22 July in Piacenza, Italy. Italy played their first game at the and made a comfortable four-try defeat of Spain, and consequently earning qualification to WXV 2. 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.
Play-offs WXV 3 final qualification
WXV 2/WXV 3 play-off match
Notes
Match officials World Rugby named the following 18 referees, one assistant referee and seven television match officials:
WXV 1 Referees Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand) Sara Cox (England) Hollie Davidson (Scotland) / Lauren Jenner (Italy/New Zealand) Amber McLachlan (Australia) Television match officials Rachel Horton (Australia) Andrew McMenemy (Scotland) Ian Tempest (England)
WVX 2 Referees Natarsha Ganley (New Zealand) Aurélie Groizeleau (France) Clara Munarini (Italy) Kat Roche (United States) Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe) Holly Wood (England) Television match officials Leo Colgan (Ireland) Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
WXV 3 Referees Doriane Domenjo (France) Ella Goldsmith (Australia) Ano Kuwai (Japan) Maria Latos (Germany) Amelia Luciano (United States) Adele Robert (Belgium)
Assistant Referees Sunny Lee (Hong Kong)
Television match officials Andrew Hosie (Canada) Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Squads
WXV 1
The 2023 WXV 1 was staged in New Zealand between 20 October and 4 November. 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. England, France and Wales played matches against Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Round 1
Team details FB 15Helena RowlandRW 14Abigail DowOC 13Megan Jones IC 12Tatyana Heard LW 11Jess BreachFH 10Holly AitchisonSH 9 Ella Wyrwas N8 8 Alex Matthews OF 7 Marlie Packer (c)BF 6 Maisy AllenRL 5 Zoe Aldcroft LL 4 Rosie GalliganTP 3 Maud Muir HK 2 Connie Powell LP 1 Hannah Botterman Replacements:HK 16Lark Atkin-Davies PR 17Mackenzie Carson PR 18Kelsey Clifford LK 19Sarah Beckett FL 20Daisy Hibbert-Jones SH 21Natasha Hunt CE 22Sophie Bridger FB 23Emma Sing Coach: Louis Deacon FB 15Faitala MolekaRW 14Maya Stewart OC 13Georgina FriedrichsIC 12Arabella McKenzieLW 11Ivania WongFH 10Carys Dallinger SH 9 Layne Morgan N8 8 Kaitlan LeaneyOF 7 Emily ChancellorBF 6 Siokapesi Palu RL 5 Annabelle Codey LL 4 Michaela Leonard (c) TP 3 Asoiva Karpani HK 2 Tania Naden LP 1 Brianna Hoy Replacements:HK 16Adiana Talakai PR 17Bree-Anna Cheatham PR 18Emily Robinson LK 19Atasi Lafai FL 20Ashley Marsters SH 21Sarah Dougherty CE 22Cecilia SmithWG 23Desiree Miller Coach: Jay Tregonning Player of the Match: Holly Aitchison (England)
Assistant referees: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand) Taneika Uerata (New Zealand) Television match official: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Notes: Daisy Hibbert-Jones (England) and Brianna Hoy, Sarah Dougherty and Desiree Miller (all Australia) made their international debuts.
Team details FB 15Maddy GrantRW 14Florence Symonds OC 13Shoshanah SeumanutafaIC 12Alex TessierLW 11Sarah-Maude LachanceFH 10Claire Gallagher SH 9 Olivia Apps N8 8 Sophie de Goede (c)OF 7 Sara SvobodaBF 6 Gabby Senft RL 5 Laetitia RoyerLL 4 Tyson Beukeboom TP 3 Alex Ellis HK 2 Emily Tuttosi LP 1 McKinley Hunt Replacements:HK 16Gillian Boag PR 17Brittany Kassil PR 18DaLeaka Menin LK 19Ashlynn Smith FL 20Sara Cline SH 21Justine Pelletier CE 22Julia Schell WG 23Krissy Scurfield Coach: Kévin Rouet FB 15Jasmine JoyceRW 14Lisa NeumannOC 13Hannah Jones (c)IC 12Kerin LakeLW 11Carys Cox FH 10Robyn Wilkins SH 9 Keira Bevan N8 8 Bethan LewisOF 7 Alex CallenderBF 6 Alisha Butchers RL 5 Georgia Evans LL 4 Abbie Fleming TP 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu HK 2 Carys Phillips LP 1 Gwenllian Pyrs Replacements:HK 16Kelsey Jones PR 17Abbey Constable PR 18Donna Rose LK 19Kate Williams N8 20Sioned Harries SH 21Megan Davies FH 22Lleucu George WG 23Carys Williams-Morris Coach: Ioan Cunningham Player of the Match: Sophie de Goede (Canada)
Assistant referees: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand) Taneika Uerata (New Zealand) Television match official: Rachel Horton (Australia)
Notes: DaLeaka Menin (Canada) earned her 50th test cap. Courtney Holtkamp was originally to start on the Canada bench, but withdrew before kick-off. She was replaced by Sara Cline.
Team details FB 15Renee Holmes RW 14Ruby TuiOC 13Amy du Plessis IC 12Sylvia Brunt LW 11Katelyn Vaha'akolo FH 10Ruahei Demant (c)SH 9 Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu N8 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u OF 7 Kennedy Simon BF 6 Alana Bremner RL 5 Charmaine Smith LL 4 Maia RoosTP 3 Amy Rule HK 2 Georgia Ponsonby LP 1 Krystal Murray Replacements:HK 16Luka Connor PR 17Chryss Viliko PR 18Tanya Kalounivale LK 19Chelsea Bremner FL 20Lucy Jenkins SH 21Ariana Bayler CE 22Patricia Maliepo WG 23Martha Mataele Coach: Allan Bunting FB 15Morgane BourgeoisRW 14Cyrielle Banet OC 13Marine Ménager IC 12Gabrielle Vernier LW 11Émilie BoulardFH 10Lina QueyroiSH 9 Alexandre Chambon N8 8 Charlotte Escudero OF 7 Gaëlle HermetBF 6 Axelle BerthoumieuRL 5 Madoussou Fall LL 4 Manae Feleu (c) TP 3 Clara Joyeux HK 2 Élisa Riffonneau LP 1 Ambre Mwayembe Replacements:HK 16Laure Touyé PR 17Coco Lindelauf PR 18Assia Khalfaoui LK 19Audrey Forlani FL 20Lea Champon N8 21Emeline Gros SH 22Pauline Bourdon Sansus CE 23Nassira Konde Coach: Gaëlle Mignot David Ortiz Player of the Match: Émilie Boulard (France)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) Amber McLachlan (Australia) Television match official: Ian Tempest (England)
Notes: This was France's first victory over New Zealand in New Zealand. This was only New Zealand's third defeat at home, after respective 27–22 and 29–21 losses to England in 2001 and 2017.
Round 2
Team details FB 15Ellie KildunneRW 14Abigail Dow OC 13Helena RowlandIC 12Amber Reed LW 11Claudia MacDonaldFH 10Holly Aitchison SH 9 Natasha Hunt N8 8 Alex MatthewsOF 7 Marlie Packer (c) BF 6 Morwenna TallingRL 5 Catherine O'Donnell LL 4 Zoe AldcroftTP 3 Sarah Bern HK 2 Lark Atkin-Davies LP 1 Mackenzie Carson Replacements:HK 16Connie Powell PR 17Hannah Botterman PR 18Maud Muir LK 19Rosie Galligan FL 20Maisy Allen SH 21Ella Wyrwas CE 22Tatyana Heard WG 23Jess Breach Coach: Louis Deacon FB 15Sarah-Maude LachanceRW 14Paige FarriesOC 13Shoshanah SeumanutafaIC 12Alex TessierLW 11Florence Symonds FH 10Claire Gallagher SH 9 Olivia Apps N8 8 Sophie de Goede (c)OF 7 Sara Svoboda BF 6 Gabby SenftRL 5 Courtney HoltkampLL 4 Tyson Beukeboom TP 3 DaLeaka Menin HK 2 Emily Tuttosi LP 1 McKinley Hunt Replacements:HK 16Gillian Boag PR 17Brittany Kassil PR 18Alex Ellis LK 19Ashlynn Smith FL 20Sara Cline SH 21Justine Pelletier FH 22Julia Schell WG 23Maddy Grant Coach: Kévin Rouet Player of the Match: Lark Atkin-Davies (England)
Assistant referees: Lauren Jenner (Italy/New Zealand) Cassie Watt (New Zealand) Television match official: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Notes: Lark Atkin-Davies (England) became the first female hooker to score four tries in a test.
Team details FB 15Renee HolmesRW 14Ruby Tui OC 13Amy du PlessisIC 12Sylvia Brunt LW 11Mererangi PaulFH 10Ruahei Demant (c)SH 9 Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu N8 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u OF 7 Kennedy SimonBF 6 Layla Sae RL 5 Chelsea BremnerLL 4 Maia Roos TP 3 Amy Rule HK 2 Georgia Ponsonby LP 1 Kate HenwoodReplacements:HK 16Luka Connor PR 17Krystal Murray PR 18Tanya Kalounivale FL 19Alana Bremner FL 20Lucy Jenkins SH 21Iritana Hohaia FH 22Patricia Maliepo WG 23Katelyn Vaha'akolo Coach: Allan Bunting FB 15Nel Metcalfe RW 14Jasmine JoyceOC 13Hannah JonesIC 12Hannah BluckLW 11Carys Williams-Morris FH 10Lleucu George SH 9 Keira Bevan N8 8 Sioned Harries OF 7 Alex Callender BF 6 Alisha ButchersRL 5 Kate WilliamsLL 4 Abbie FlemingTP 3 Donna Rose HK 2 Kelsey Jones LP 1 Gwenllian Pyrs Replacements:HK 16Katharine Evans PR 17Abbey Constable PR 18Sisilia Tuipulotu LK 19Bryonie King FL 20Bethan Lewis SH 21Megan Davies FH 22Robyn Wilkins WG 23Megan Webb Coach: Ioan Cunningham
Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)