Everything you need to know ahead of the final round of WXV 2024

Heading into the final weekend of WXV 2024 there is plenty to play for across all three levels with the identity of the champions and destination of the remaining Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 tickets to be decided.

In Canada, the hosts will take on defending champions England for the WXV 1 title in a fitting finale to the second edition of the global women’s competition.

By the time that match gets underway in Vancouver, we will know who has been crowned champions in both WXV 2 and WXV 3, while six teams will have confirmed their places at England 2025.

WXV 1

Friday, 11 October (all matches BC Place, Vancouver)

USA v Ireland – KO 12:30 local time (GMT-7)

Match headline: A meeting of two improving teams, USA will want to turn promise into points while Ireland can transform a good tournament into a great one.

History: USA won five of the first seven meetings before Ireland triumphed in the most recent, current full-back Stacey Flood kicking five points in a 20-10 victory three years ago.

Rankings: Ireland can climb to fifth if they win and Scotland draw with Australia. USA will be the higher ranked of the two nations if they win.

Saturday, 12 October

New Zealand v France – KO 15:45

Match headline: Black Ferns attempt to avoid tournament whitewash as Les Bleues bid to maintain good recent form in fixture.

History: New Zealand lead the head-to-head six wins to five but their only victory since 2018 came in the Women’s RWC 2021 semi-finals when Caroline Drouin missed a last-minute penalty that would have won it for France.

Rankings: Les Bleues will climb above the Black Ferns and into third with victory, condemning New Zealand to fourth place, their lowest-ever position.

Canada v England – KO 19:00

Match headline: Hosts take on defending champions with the winner taking the WXV 1 2024 title.

History: England have won 32 of the 36 tests between the sides, including the last 12, while the most recent of Canada’s three wins (there has been one draw) came in 2016.

Rankings: The Red Roses will increase their rating to 97.85 if they win by more than 15 points, the highest rating ever recorded across the men’s and women’s rankings.

WXV 2

Friday, 11 October (all matches Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town)

Wales v Japan – KO 16:00 local time (GMT+2)

Match headline: The second level’s two winless sides meet with the loser guaranteed to finish bottom of the standings.

History: Wales have only played Japan twice previously, the Sakura 15s winning 52-10 in Ystrad Mynach in 2017 before losing 23-5 in Cardiff four years later.

Rankings: Wales can climb above Italy to ninth if they win and the Azzurre lose to South Africa. Japan cannot improve on 11th.

Saturday, 12 October

South Africa v Italy – KO 14:00

Match headline: Hosts hope to prolong title hopes with maiden victory in the fixture.

History: Italy have won both previous meetings between the sides, 35-10 in Prato in 2018 and 36-18 at Athlone Sports Stadium, during last year’s WXV 2 tournament.

Rankings: The Azzurre can climb to eighth with a third win against the Springbok Women, while the hosts must win to have any chance of finishing the weekend 11th.

Australia v Scotland – KO 16:00

Match headline: Wallaroos know they will claim the title if they avoid defeat against the defending champions, who need to win.

History: Scotland have never beaten the Wallaroos, Australia having won all three previous meetings, 25-15 in 1998, 30-0 four years later and 14-12 in 2022.

Rankings: Scotland cannot improve on fifth, but Australia could replace them in that position if they win; depending on Friday’s result between USA and Ireland.

WXV 3

Friday, 11 October (all matches The Sevens Stadium, Dubai)

Samoa v Madagascar – KO 19:00 local time (GMT+4)

Match headline: Samoa can book their ticket to Women’s RWC 2025 and maintain their title hopes with victory against winless Madagascar.

History: This is the first test between the teams.

Rankings: Samoa cannot improve their rating with victory, but Madagascar would climb to a new all-time high of 24th if they upset the form book.

Saturday, 12 October

Netherlands v Hong Kong China – KO 18:00

Match headline: Two teams still mathematically in the hunt for Women’s RWC qualification bid to do all they can to make it to England.

History: Hong Kong China won the first two fixtures, 14-12 and 18-0 in November 2019, but the Dutch were victorious the last time they met, claiming a 19-17 victory in May 2023.

Rankings: A third win in the fixture would lift Hong Kong China above the Netherlands. Whoever is victorious on Saturday could climb as high as 15th depending on the other WXV 3 results.

Fiji v Spain – KO 20:30

Match headline: Spain know the title is theirs with victory, while they only need two points to be sure of Women’s RWC qualification. A Fiji win could crown Samoa as champions.

History: Las Leonas won the teams’ only meeting to date, a Claudia Peña Hidalgo brace and 11 points from the boot of Amalia Argudo helping Spain to a 26-19 win in Dubai 12 months ago.

Rankings: Spain cannot improve on 13th, but they could close to within 0.25 points of South Africa if they beat Fiji and the Springbok Women lose heavily. Fijiana will climb to 14th with a win.