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What to watch in women's rugby: Wolfhounds close in on title

79 days ago

Dublin , Ireland - 22 December 2024; Linda Djougang of Wolfhounds on her way to scoring her side's second try during the Celtic Challenge match between Wolfhounds and Clovers at Energia Park in Dublin. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

The Celtic Challenge title will be won, and World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger hopes maintained while Super Rugby Women’s continues in Australia.

Defending Celtic Challenge champions Wolfhounds can claim the silverware for a second successive year as they welcome Edinburgh Rugby to Dublin.

In Super Rugby Women’s, meanwhile, Fijian Drua will hope to build on an impressive start to the season while the Waratahs and Western Force will want to kickstart theirs as the Reds join the party.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

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‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

And in Cape Town, the race for HSBC SVNS promotion heats up at Athlone Stadium as the 12 teams that began the Sevens Challenger are whittled down to just eight by the end of the second round.

Watch all of that action and much, much more live and for free via RugbyPass TV*.

Wolfhounds close in on title

Heading into the final round of the Celtic Challenge, Wolfhounds know that one more win, against Edinburgh on Saturday, would be enough to sew up a second successive title.

Wolfhounds start round 10 top of the table with eight wins and 39 points from their nine matches so far.

Following their 48-17 victory against Gwalia Lightning at Ystrad Mynach last time out only second-place Clovers can overhaul them.

Claire Boles was the star of the show for Wolfhounds in Wales, the captain’s first-half hat-trick helping her side to build a 41-0 lead by half-time.

It was an emphatic result that ended Gwalia’s own title hopes and edged Wolfhounds ever closer to the championship.

Clovers, who inflicted the defending champions’ only defeat of the campaign back in round two, can put pressure on their Irish rivals when they face Gwalia this Saturday.

But the result at Ystrad Mynach will be rendered irrelevant if Wolfhounds are able to beat Edinburgh at Energia Park.

Edinburgh were runners-up last year but have found the going much tougher this time around, winning only twice all season.

Wolfhounds triumphed 31-22 when the sides met at Hive Stadium two weeks ago, Boles, Erin King, Brittany Hogan, Linda Djougang and Amy Larn scoring first-half tries before their team withstood a second-half fightback from their hosts.

A repeat result would ensure the title stays in the Wolfhounds trophy cabinet for another season at least. Find out if they can do it, live and for free via RugbyPass TV.

Saturday, March 8
12:15 GMT – Wolfhounds v Edinburgh Rugby, Energia Park – WATCH LIVE HERE

Reds enter Super Rugby Women’s 2025

The new Super Rugby Women’s season kicked off with a bang last weekend as Fijian Drua scored within 10 seconds en route to a 23-17 victory at defending champions Waratahs.

Drua will hope to build on that impressive win in round two as they host the Reds at Churchill Park.
A repeat of the 2023 final, which Drua won, it will be the first time the two teams have met on Fijian soil.

The Reds endured a difficult 2024 campaign, winning just once to finish bottom of the table, and they will be keen to start this season on a positive note having had a bye in the opening weekend.

Drua ran in six tries in the corresponding fixture 11 months ago, to run out 32-21 winners at Ballymore Stadium.

Waratahs, meanwhile, will be determined to kickstart their title defence as they welcome Western Force to Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Nicole Ledington’s late conversion of Samantha Treherne’s try rescued a 29-29 draw for Force in their opening match of the 2025 season, against the Brumbies at HBF Park.

It means both teams are still looking for their first win of the campaign ahead of their meeting in Sydney.

Waratahs ran in seven tries to secure a 45-21 victory when the teams met in Perth last season and the hosts will hope for more of the same this Saturday.

You can watch all of the action from the second round of Super Rugby Women’s 2025 live and for free via RugbyPass TV*.

Saturday, March 8
01:05 GMT – Fijian Drua v Reds, Churchill Park – WATCH LIVE HERE
06:05 GMT – Waratahs v Force, Allianz Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE

Race for SVNS promotion intensifies

Eight teams will book their tickets to Krakow following the second round of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 in Cape Town this weekend.

Athlone Stadium will again host two days of intense sevens action as the 12 competing nations ultimately bid to prolong their hopes of securing promotion to HSBC SVNS 2026.

Kenya will start the second round top of the standings following their surprise victory in the opening round in Cape Town last weekend.

The Lionesses Sevens shocked hosts South Africa in the semi-finals before beating Argentina in the showpiece match.

South Africa recovered from that loss to beat Colombia in the third-place play-off and consolidate their place in the top four but there is plenty to play for in the second round.

Thailand, fresh from a fifth-place finish in round one, Poland, Czechia and Uganda will be among the teams who will feel they can push into the top four.

At the end of the second round at Athlone Stadium, the top eight teams in the standings will secure their place in the third round in Krakow next month.

Following the third and final round of the Sevens Challenger, four teams will secure their passage to the HSBC SVNS Play Off in Los Angeles in May.

Watch all of this weekend’s action from Cape Town live and for free via RugbyPass TV, except in Canada and South Africa.

Friday, March 7
07:55 GMT – World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger round two, day one, Athlone Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE

Saturday, March 8
07: 55 GMT – World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger round two, day two, Athlone Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE

*Except where there is an exclusive local broadcast deal in place.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 12 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 12 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 12 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 12 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 12 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 12 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 12 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 12 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 12 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 12 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 12 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 12 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 12 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 12 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 12 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 12 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 12 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 12 days ago

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

👍