Three nations will make their entrance onto the WXV stage when the second edition of the global women’s tournament kicks off this weekend.
Hong Kong China, Madagascar and the Netherlands have each qualified to compete in WXV 3 in the United Arab Emirates and are thus in contention for one of the remaining six tickets to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
Madagascar will be the first of the debutants to experience the third level when they take on Spain at 19:00 local time (GMT+4) at The Sevens Stadium, Dubai on Friday.
On Saturday, Hong Kong China and the Netherlands will get their campaigns underway, against Fiji and Samoa respectively.
Ahead of the opening round we run through everything you need to know about the newcomers.
Hong Kong China
World Ranking: 17th
Head coach: Andrew Douglas
Captain: Pun Wai Yan
Player to watch: Natasha Olson-Thorne
Route to UAE:
Hong Kong China booked their tickets to Dubai, and maintained their hopes of Women’s RWC 2025 qualification, with a flawless 22-0 defeat of Kazakhstan at the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship in June.
Andrew Douglas’ side had opened the tournament with an impressive yet fruitless performance against Japan, tries from Shanna Forrest and Chong Ka Yan unable to prevent a 29-12 defeat to the eventual champions.
They had lost the corresponding fixture with Kazakhstan 12 months earlier to miss out on a place at the inaugural edition of WXV 3 and were in no mood to delay their debut any further.
Cheered on by a passionate crowd at Hong Kong Football Club, the hosts crossed the whitewash three times – through Chong, Natasha Olson-Thorne and Lau Nga Wun – while Zoe Smith added seven points from the kicking tee.
Did you know?
Hong Kong China played a warm-up test at The Sevens Stadium in the build-up to last year’s inaugural edition of WXV 3.
Zoe Smith scored 21 points, 10 of which came in the final 10 minutes, to help her side to a thrilling 31-28 victory against Colombia.
Madagascar
World Ranking: 25th
Head coach: Alain Randriamihaja
Captain: Fenitra Razafindramanga
Player to watch: Tiana Razanamahefa
Route to UAE:
Having seen their hopes of qualifying for WXV 3 2023 undone by a narrow defeat to Kenya in the opening round of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup 2023, Madagascar put things right in May.
Trailing 12-5 at half-time, the hosts scored three tries after the break to pull level with the Lionesses at 22-22 with time running out at Stade Makis.
Olivia Hanitriniaina – who had started the comeback at the end of the first half – supplied the winning score in the final play of the match, before Tiana Razanamahefa converted to confirm a 29-22 victory.
Madagascar followed that up with a 12-5 defeat of Cameroon in the second round, which meant their qualification for WXV 3 2024 was assured before a 46-17 loss against South Africa.
Did you know?
The largest recorded attendance for a women’s match in Africa came in Madagascar, when 18,000 fans filled Stade Makis to watch the final round of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup 2023.
Following a 52-3 victory for Kenya against Cameroon, which confirmed the former’s place at WXV 3 2023, the hosts lost 79-8 against a Libbie Janse van Rensburg-inspired Springbok Women.
Netherlands
World Ranking: 16th
Head coach: Sylke Haverkorn
Captain: Linde van der Velden
Player to watch: Pleuni Kievit
Route to UAE:
The Netherlands earned a play-off against Colombia, the team that finished bottom of the WXV 3 2023 standings, by virtue of being the highest nation in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings who did not take part in the inaugural edition.
Despite conceding the opening try in Amsterdam on 16 March, the Dutch recovered to lead 14-8 at half-time thanks to tries from Isa Prins and Lieve Stallman.
Inger Jongerius claimed the hosts’ third try within two minutes of the restart and Gaya van Nifterik and Pleuni Kievit each crossed the whitewash before full-time to confirm a 33-11 victory and book their place in Dubai.
It means the Netherlands remain in contention to claim one of the remaining six tickets to Women’s RWC 2025.
Did you know?
The Netherlands hosted the first-ever women’s test match, when they played France in Utrecht on 13 June, 1982.
France won the match, staged to help celebrate the Dutch union’s 50th anniversary, 4-0 and the teams would meet on an annual basis until 1988. The Netherlands claimed their sole victory in the fixture to date in 1986.
