WXV 3: Opening weekend team news as Spain ring changes

Madagascar will make their WXV 3 debut on Friday when they face Spain, who narrowly missed out on the 2023 title, in the United Arab Emirates at 19:00 local time (GMT+4).

The action at The Sevens Stadium will continue on Saturday as Fiji take on another debutant, Hong Kong China (kick-off 18:00), before the Netherlands become the third team to play their first match in the competition, against Samoa at 20:30.

Get all the team news for the opening weekend of WXV 3 matches below as and when it drops.

Spain v Madagascar

Spain head coach Juan Gonzalez Marruecos has made seven changes to the team beaten by South Africa in their final warm-up match in Cape Town last week.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – One year to go until the Women’s Rugby World Cup

With exactly one year to go until Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 kicks off
in Sunderland, excitement is sweeping across the host nation in anticipation of what
will be the biggest and most accessible celebration of women’s rugby ever.

Register now for the ticket presale

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – One year to go until the Women’s Rugby World Cup

With exactly one year to go until Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 kicks off
in Sunderland, excitement is sweeping across the host nation in anticipation of what
will be the biggest and most accessible celebration of women’s rugby ever.

Register now for the ticket presale

Props Inés Antolínez and Sidorella Bracic form a new front row alongside hooker and captain Cris Blanco, while flankers Lía Piñeiro and María Calvo start either side of Gloucester-Hartpury number eight Carmen Castellucci.

In the backs, there are starts for scrum-half Anne Fernández de Corres and outside centre Claudia Cano.

Fixture

WXV 3

Spain Women

11:00

27 Sep 24

Madagascar Women

All Stats and Data

Madgascar head coach Alain Randriamihaja has made one personnel and several positional changes to the side beaten 63-19 by Kenya in Nairobi last Friday.

The one personnel change comes in the pack where tighthead prop Fenitra Razafindramanga returns to the front row and lock Felana Rakotoarison drops out.

However, there are three positional switches up front. Laurence Rasoanandrasana moves from hooker to number eight, while Nanou Razafializay wears two instead of three and Sarindra Sahondramalala moves into the second row from the base of the scrum.

Spain: 15. Claudia Peña, 14. Claudia Pérez, 13. Claudia Cano, 12. Zahía Pérez, 11. Clara Piquero, 10. Amalia Argudo, 9. Anne Fernández de Corres, 1. Inés Antolínez, 2. Cris Blanco (captain), 3. Sidorella Bracic, 4. Nadina Cisa, 5. Lourdes Alameda, 6. Lía Piñeiro, 7. María Calvo, 8. Carmen Castellucci.
Replacements: 16. Marieta Román, 17. María del Castillo, 18. Laura Delgado, 19. Elena Martínez, 20. Alba Capell, 21. Lucía Díaz, 22. Maider Aresti, 23. Martina Márquez.

Madagascar: 15. Tiana Razanamahefa, 14. Claudia Rasoarimalala, 13. Veronique Rasoanekena, 12. Valisoa Razanakiniana, 11. Zaya Fanantenana, 10. Marie Bodonandrianina, 9. Joela Mirasoa Fenohasina, 1. Mamisoa Rasoarimalala, 2. Nanou Razafializay, 3. Fenitra Razafindramanga, 4. Oliviane Andriatsilavina, 5. Sarindra Sahondramalala, 6. Sariaka Nomenjanahary, 7. Delphine Raharimalala, 8. Laurence Rasoanandrasana.
Replacements: 16. Miora Rabarivelo, 17. Nomenjanahary Rakotozafi, 18. Eleonore Rasoanantenaina, 19. Felana Rakotoarison, 20. Volatiana Rasoanandrasana, 21. Vonjimalala Ranorovololona, 22. Olivia Hanitriniaina, 23. Voahirana Razafiarisoa.