Latest news with #RugbyWorldCup2025
Daily Maverick
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Springbok Women's matches against Canada provide a litmus test of team's growth
The Bok Women will be looking for an improved showing against Canada as they build towards next month's Rugby World Cup. The Springbok Women have been on a steep upward trajectory across the last year but received a reality check against Canada at Loftus Versfeld last weekend, suffering a 50-20 loss. They face the same opponents in Gqeberha on Saturday, 12 July. The Bok Women have grown significantly since experienced coach Swys de Bruin and former Junior Springbok coach Bafana Nhleko have been at the mantle since August last year. The coaching changes were put in place with the goal of the team reaching new heights at the Rugby World Cup 2025, which gets underway next month in England. So far, everything has run smoothly. But for the first time in 11 months, the team have faced their biggest hurdle and suffered their biggest defeat in that time against second-ranked Canada. Outplayed The Springbok Women were completely outplayed at Loftus, with Canada creating linebreaks seemingly at will. The first half was particularly poor from the national women's side, as they were lucky to go into the break only 26-3 down. The breakdown was a mess as well, with the Bok Women at sea, conceding penalty after penalty in the first 40 minutes. 'We gave away four soft tries and that was 28 points gone,' De Bruin said after the match. 'Against a team like Canada, who is really skilful and have a good style of rugby, that is never going to give you the result you want. 'Also, six of the first seven penalties against us were for breakdown infringements, and that is something we will have to look at this coming week.' They came out with a renewed intensity in the second stanza and scored 17 points, although the defence still had gapping holes, conceding 24 points. Still improving Since De Bruin took the reins, the Bok Women were within a bounce of a ball away from beating Australia and Italy, two teams also much higher on the rankings than the Boks, in sixth and eighth respectively. South Africa (SA) is languishing in 12th place. While SA wasn't able to replicate the form they have displayed recently, which include a 48-26 over Spain earlier this year, De Bruin remains pleased about the progress his side has made. 'Last time we played Canada, they won 66-7 and [we] showed that we are closing the gap,' he said. 'The improvement is real and the whole purpose of this match was to show us where our weaknesses are, and we are doing well. 'The same will apply next weekend [against Canada] and when we play the Black Ferns XV in a couple of weeks' time. If we learn from the lessons and eliminate them, we will keep improving as we get closer to the Rugby World Cup.' The positive for the Springbok Women is that their scrum remains one of the most powerful in the game as they dismantled the Canadian pack nearly every time of asking. De Bruin also opted to move dynamic playmaker Nadine Roos to scrumhalf around the 60-minute mark. It allowed SA's most skillful ball player regular access to the pill. Roos has been shifted around the backline spine under De Bruin. He played Roos at flyhalf across the WXV2 last year, before shifting her back to the 15 jumper against Canada and then moving her to scrumhalf. 'I am happy to play wherever the coach wants me to play and it went well when I moved from fullback to scrumhalf in the second half,' Roos said. 'I just want to be around the ball and where the action is, and I'm happy that I got that chance.' Rugby World Cup Every dart being thrown at the board by De Bruin is to see what sticks and what can be implemented at the World Cup in England next month. There the team has a chance to reach the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time. SA has Brazil, Italy and France in their group. They are expected to beat 28th-ranked Brazil, but then should not be reliant on the bounce of the ball to defeat Italy. Their final group game against fourth-ranked France will not have any consequence if they do achieve that. If not, they will need to beat France. The team's next showing against Canada will provide a solid indication of how close the Springbok Women are to defeating the upper echelon of teams. DM
The Independent
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
New ‘Super Saturday' to mix up Women's Six Nations
The Guinness Women's Six Nations will introduce a 'Super Saturday' format in 2026, featuring back-to-back matches on a single day in each round to enhance fan experience and global viewership. England, the reigning champions, will begin their title defence against Ireland on Saturday, April 11 at Allianz Stadium Twickenham, marking the start of the revamped tournament. France will host Italy in the opening match on the same day, followed by Scotland 's travel to Wales, setting the stage for a series of competitive games. The competition will culminate in a 'Super Sunday' on May 17, with a potential title-deciding match between England and France as the final fixture. The tournament's new schedule aims to capitalise on the anticipated surge in interest following the Rugby World Cup 2025 in England, positioning the Guinness Women's Six Nations to drive momentum in women's rugby.
RTÉ News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
New Women's Rugby World Cup trophy unveiled
A new Women's Rugby World Cup trophy has been unveiled in a "symbolic moment" that marks 100 days until the start of this year's tournament in England. The silverware, which is 38cm tall and weighs 4.5kg, was designed following consultation with former world champions, including ex-England players Katy Daley-Mclean, Sarah Hunter, Rachael Burford and Gill Burns. Scott Bemand's Ireland face Japan on 24 August, Spain a week later, with both games in Northampton's Franklin's Gardens, while their final Pool C match is against champions New Zealand in Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium on 7 September. Twickenham stadium will host the final on 27 September. A record 300,000 tickets had been sold for the tournament before a further wave was released on Wednesday morning. Sally Horrox, World Rugby's chief of women's rugby, said creating a new trophy was initially discussed following the last World Cup, which was hosted and won by six-time champions New Zealand. "This is the biggest global celebration of women's rugby ever so we were looking at different ways to mark that moment," she said at the trophy's unveiling outside Battersea Power Station in London. "One is bringing the final to the Allianz Stadium [Twickenham] , another is the record-breaking ticket sales and this (the trophy) is part of that. "This is a symbolic moment that reflects that power, that growth and that momentum (of women's rugby). It's going to be phenomenal." The new trophy is set to go on a tour of the eight host cities and towns: Brighton, Bristol, Exeter, London, Manchester, Northampton, Sunderland and York. Crafted from sterling silver and plated with 24-carat gold, it is the third Women's Rugby World Cup trophy. The initial trophy was won by the USA in 1991 and England in 1994 before being found in an attic after going missing for 15 years. Its replacement, which was introduced for the 1998 tournament and was claimed by England in 2014, had been criticised for being small. "That wasn't the driving force behind the change because if you spoke to the players that lifted that trophy – and we did consult them – it had a hugely special place in their hearts," said Horrox. "It really meant a great deal to them but what they also recognised was that this moment now, in 2025, is really a pivot point. "A point at which we really start to look forward, to where the game will go, can go, should go." Following their Pool A curtain-raiser against the USA at the Stadium of Light, two-time world champions England, who are six-time runners-up, face Samoa in Northampton on 30 August and Australia in Brighton on 6 September . Sarah Massey, managing director of Rugby World Cup 2025, said: "We know it's going to be the biggest and best Women's Rugby World Cup that we've ever seen and we now have a prestigious trophy to match it. "Ticket sales have been amazing. We're seeing great ticket sales across the board, in every single venue."
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canada launch $1m fundraiser to win World Cup
Rugby Canada has launched a fundraising campaign to "win the Rugby World Cup 2025" in England, with the goal to raise $1m (£750,000). Canada Women are an amateur outfit but are ranked number two in the world, and gave World Cup favourites England their toughest game last year, losing the WXV1 final 21-12 in Vancouver. To help with funding, a private donor will match all donations up to $50,000 (£39,000) throughout March. "We are fortunate that Rugby Canada is fully invested in supporting us in our mission to win a World Cup and inspire the growth of rugby in our country," said Canada captain Sophie de Goede. "That support has only grown over the years to the point that now, unlike many unions, our financial support is on equal footing to the men's programme. "The unfortunate part is that the resource pool from which those finances are pulled is much smaller than our competition and our union has been working tirelessly to grow that." Generous support of the rugby and Canadian sports communities has ensured Canada are 30% of the way to reaching their fundraising goal, which was officially launched in celebration of International Women's Day on Saturday. England are on a 20-game winning run but have not won the World Cup since 2014, when they defeated Canada in the final. Canada have also reached the semi-finals on four occasions and were narrowly defeated 26-19 by the Red Roses at that stage in 2022. 'Goal is to win the World Cup' - Canada captain Beukeboom Why does International Women's Day matter?
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Canada launch $1m fundraiser to win World Cup
Rugby Canada has launched a fundraising campaign to "win the Rugby World Cup 2025" in England, with the goal to raise $1m (£750,000).Canada Women are an amateur outfit but are ranked number two in the world, and gave World Cup favourites England their toughest game last year, losing the WXV1 final 21-12 in help with funding, a private donor will match all donations up to $50,000 (£39,000) throughout March. "We are fortunate that Rugby Canada is fully invested in supporting us in our mission to win a World Cup and inspire the growth of rugby in our country," said Canada captain Sophie de Goede."That support has only grown over the years to the point that now, unlike many unions, our financial support is on equal footing to the men's programme."The unfortunate part is that the resource pool from which those finances are pulled is much smaller than our competition and our union has been working tirelessly to grow that."Generous support of the rugby and Canadian sports communities has ensured Canada are 30% of the way to reaching their fundraising goal, which was officially launched in celebration of International Women's Day on are on a 20-game winning run but have not won the World Cup since 2014, when they defeated Canada in the have also reached the semi-finals on four occasions and were narrowly defeated 26-19 by the Red Roses at that stage in 2022.
