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What to watch in women's rugby: Road to England 2025 continues
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 qualification will be decided across three competitions over the next 10 days and you can watch the action unfold with RugbyPass TV.
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The equation facing Australia in North Harbour this Saturday could not be simpler: beat their hosts for the first time and tickets to England 2025 and WXV 1 2024 in Canada are theirs.
Lose or draw and it will be USA taking the remaining spot from the World Rugby Pacific Four Series 2024, alongside champions Canada and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Japan are one victory from confirming their place at Women’s RWC 2025 and WXV 2 2024, while Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea begin their qualification journey on Friday.
In Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) on Saturday, Saracens have the chance to lay down a marker for the end-of-season play-offs as they welcome league leaders Gloucester-Hartpury to StoneX Stadium.
Fortunately, all that action and more is available to stream live and for free on RugbyPass TV.
Date with destiny for Wallaroos
The 2024 Pacific Four Series draws to a close in North Harbour on Saturday, and Australia know they must make history against New Zealand if they are to qualify for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 and WXV 1 2024.
Defeat to the USA last Friday dented the Wallaroos’ hopes of playing in the top level of WXV this year and securing their ticket to England 2025 at the earliest opportunity.
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Crucially, though, the Wallaroos picked up two bonus points from the 32-25 loss, meaning they will leapfrog USA in the final standings if they earn a first-ever Test victory against the Black Ferns this weekend.
They will come up against wounded hosts on Saturday, however, after New Zealand suffered a maiden defeat against Canada last weekend to cede the title to the North Americans.
It was the first time the Black Ferns had lost a Pacific Four Series match and although Patricia Maliepo’s late try earned the bonus point that gave them a place in this year’s WXV 1 tournament, they will want to end their campaign on a winning note.
Black Ferns fans can take heart from the fact they won last year’s two O’Reilly Cup matches by an aggregate of 93-3 and the hosts have scored at least 40 points in four of their previous five Tests against the Wallaroos.
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All the action is available to stream for free via RugbyPass TV except where there is a local broadcast deal in place (Canada, New Zealand and USA).
Saturday, 25 May
03:05 BST (GMT+1) – New Zealand v Australia, North Harbour Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE
Sarries welcome unbeaten Circus to town
Two weeks before the PWR play-offs are due to begin, fans will get an opportunity to watch the current top two go head-to-head in north London.
Gloucester-Hartpury ensured they would finish the regular season top of the table last weekend as they won their 15th match out of 15, running in nine tries to beat Trailfinders Women 59-12 at Kingsholm.
The Circus are now 80 minutes from an unbeaten league season and the champions will be determined to leave StoneX Stadium with an 18th successive PWR victory.
Saracens, though, are a team in form and know that victory would secure a home semi-final against either Exeter Chiefs or Bristol Bears the following weekend.
Sarah McKenna was the star of the show last Sunday, scoring a hat-trick of tries to help Saracens to a resounding 57-7 defeat of Exeter at Sandy Park.
Another big result this weekend against the champions would lay down a considerable marker for the upcoming play-offs.
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).
Saturday, 25 May
12:00 BST (GMT+1) – Saracens v Gloucester-Hartpury, StoneX Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE
World Cup tickets up for grabs in Asia, Oceania
Samoa will begin their Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship title defence on Friday as they compete with Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea for Women’s RWC 2025 and WXV 3 2024 qualification.
Cassie Siataga was the Manusina heroine last year, scoring all of her side’s points as they edged to a 19-18 victory against Fiji to claim the title and their place at WXV 2 in South Africa.
Samoa will get their 2024 campaign underway against Papua New Guinea at Sunnybank Rugby Club in Brisbane on Friday after Fiji and Tonga have opened the tournament.
Fiji will then play Papua New Guinea before Samoa take on Tonga next Wednesday. The tournament concludes on Sunday, 2 June and the final day will again be headlined by the meeting between Manusina and Fijiana.
Whoever finishes the tournament top of the table will book their ticket to England 2025. Due to Samoa finishing bottom of the inaugural WXV 2 standings, the champions and runners-up will both compete in the third level in Dubai this September and October.
Meanwhile, Japan can secure their place at Women’s RWC 2025 when the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship 2024 continues in Hong Kong.
The Sakura 15s were grateful for two tries in the final 10 minutes as they secured an opening round 29-12 victory against Hong Kong China on Wednesday.
It means they will qualify for both England 2025 and WXV 2 2024 if they beat Kazakhstan at King’s Park Sports Ground on Monday.
All the action from Brisbane and Hong Kong is available to stream live and for free worldwide on RugbyPass TV.
Friday, 24 May
08:30 BST (GMT+1) – Fiji v Tonga, Sunnybank Rugby Club – WATCH LIVE HERE
10:30 BST (GMT+1) – Samoa v Papua New Guinea, Sunnybank Rugby Club – WATCH LIVE HERE
Monday, 27 May
12:00 BST (GMT+1) – Japan v Kazakhstan, King’s Park Sports Ground – WATCH LIVE HERE
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 LIVE HERE
