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What to watch in women’s rugby: England 2025 qualification, SVNS silverware on the line

356 days ago

Jorja Miller #83, Jazmin Felix-Hotham #13 and Michaela Blyde #6 of New Zealand celebrate after defeating Australia in the women's cup final during day three of the HSBC SVNS Singapore at the National Stadium on May 05, 2024 in Singapore. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)

It’s another busy week on RugbyPass TV, where Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 qualification and HSBC SVNS 2024 glory will be decided, and the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) regular season draws to a close.

The Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship continues on Wednesday and concludes on Sunday with an expected shootout between defending champions Samoa and Fiji for a place at England 2025.

Whoever finishes the tournament in the top two will play WXV 3 rugby in Dubai this September and October, and that is also the prize on offer for Hong Kong China and Kazakhstan this Saturday.

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Meanwhile, Loughborough Lightning welcome Saracens to Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday hoping to pop the perennial champions’ bubble as the north Londoners attempt to maintain their momentum ahead of the PWR semi-finals.

All of that action, and more, will be available to stream live and for free on RugbyPass TV.

Can Lightning strike Sarries?

Saracens continue their preparations for the PWR semi-finals and help to bring the curtain down on the regular season, when they travel to Loughborough Lightning on Sunday.

Both teams head into the match knowing they will finish the day exactly where they start it but that does not mean there is nothing to play for at Franklin’s Gardens.

Saracens struck a potentially sizeable psychological blow last Saturday as they edged a 64-point thriller against champions Gloucester-Hartpury.

Fixture

PWR

Loughborough Lightning

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Full-time

Saracens Women

All Stats and Data

That victory secured a home semi-final for Alex Austerberry’s side and they will be keen to continue their preparations for the play-offs with another win this weekend.

Austerberry welcomed back the club’s North American contingent for that win, Canada front row McKinley Hunt marking her return to England with a try.

With Zoe Harrison hitting top gear and the likes of Jess Breach, Georgia Evans and Marlie Packer all on form, the addition of Hunt, Lotte Clapp, Sophie de Goede and Paige Farries must be a frightening prospect.

Yet, Lightning will want to finish their season on a high and have the opportunity to prove they are the best of the rest.

Although fifth-placed Loughborough head into the final weekend 15 points adrift of Exeter Chiefs above them, they possess several exciting players, Emily Scarratt, Sadia Kabeya and Chloe Rollie chief among them.

None of that trio will want to take a backward step on their home turf, which should make Sunday’s meeting one to savour.

All the action is available to stream for free via RugbyPass TV except where there is a local broadcast deal in place (UK, Ireland, Canada and USA).

Sunday, 2 June

15:00 BST (GMT+1) – Loughborough Lightning v Saracens, Franklin’s Gardens – WATCH LIVE HERE

Samoa, Fiji vie for ticket to England

Japan became the eighth team to confirm their appearance at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 this week, and they will be joined by a ninth come Sunday.

The Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship 2024 is set to continue this Wednesday when Fiji take on Papua New Guinea before Samoa play Tonga in Brisbane.

Defending champions Samoa did not take part in round one following the cancellation of their match against Papua New Guinea.

It means there is added significance to their encounter with Tonga, as they must win to prolong their Women’s RWC 2025 hopes until their showdown with Fiji on Sunday.

The Pacific Island nations have only met five times previously, but Samoa have won each of those matches against Tonga and ran out 69-5 victors in the corresponding fixture last year.

Meanwhile, Fiji beat Papua New Guinea 77-0 12 months ago and will be expected to win again at Sunnybank Rugby Club on Wednesday.

Should those two matches go with the form book then the tournament finale between Samoa and Fiji will become a winner-takes-all clash, with the victor booking their ticket to England 2025.

Whoever finishes the Women’s Championship in the top two will both play in WXV 3 this September and October.

Meanwhile, the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship 2024 will conclude on Saturday as hosts Hong Kong China take on Kazakhstan for a place in WXV 3.

Kazakhstan edged a tight affair 27-23 in Almaty last year, but Hong Kong will hope that home advantage proves decisive this weekend.

All the action from Brisbane and Hong Kong is available to stream live and for free worldwide on RugbyPass TV.

Wednesday, 29 May

08:30 BST (GMT+1) – Fiji v Papua New Guinea, Sunnybank Rugby Club – WATCH LIVE HERE

10:30 BST (GMT+1) – Samoa v Tonga, Sunnybank Rugby Club – WATCH HERE LIVE

Saturday, 1 June

11:30 BST (GMT+1) – Hong Kong China v Kazakhstan, Hong Kong Football Club – WATCH LIVE HERE

Sunday, 2 June

05:00 BST (GMT+1) – Tonga v Papua New Guinea, Sunnybank Rugby Club – WATCH LIVE HERE

07:00 BST (GMT+1) – Samoa v Fiji, Sunnybank Rugby Club – WATCH LIVE HERE

All eyes on SVNS Grand Final

Following seven tournaments and a global tour that started in Dubai last December, HSBC SVNS 2024 will draw to a close in Madrid this weekend.

Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano will play host to three days of scintillating rugby sevens as the overall series champions are decided in a winner-takes-all eight-team tournament.

Adding to the excitement in the Spanish capital, a further eight teams will compete for the final four places in next year’s series in the HSBC SVNS Play-off tournament.

New Zealand head to Madrid as the form team in the women’s series, having won four tournaments in a row to overhaul their fierce rivals Australia and claim the League Winners title.

A fifth successive gold medal would ensure they finish the season as overall champions, but they will face stiff competition from USA, Canada and Great Britain in Pool A.

Regular season runners-up Australia, meanwhile, will take on France, Fiji and Ireland for a place in the Grand Final Cup semi-finals.

The eight teams competing in the promotion-relegation tournament have also been split into two pools.

World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger winners China will play Japan, Spain and Poland in the pool stage, while Brazil, South Africa, Argentina and Belgium complete the line-up in the opposite group.

At the end of the qualifier pool stage, the teams will be ranked from one to eight and drawn to contest one-off play-offs for a place in HSBC SVNS 2025.

All the action from Madrid will be available to stream live and for free in the UK, Ireland, France, Japan and the USA. Viewers will be able to select a French language commentary option.

HSBC SVNS MAD

Day one – WATCH LIVE HERE

Day two – WATCH LIVE HERE

Day three – WATCH LIVE HERE

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 7 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 7 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 7 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 7 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 7 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 7 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍