World Rugby Launches Landmark WXV Global Series to Reshape Women’s International Calendar

World Rugby

World Rugby has unveiled the WXV Global Series, a bold new international competition designed to transform the women’s game and provide a clear pathway to the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 in Australia.

The new structure, developed in collaboration with 18 national unions and the International Rugby Players Association, will see more than 100 international fixtures staged between 2026 and 2028, creating certainty, consistency, and opportunity in the global women’s rugby calendar.

A Two-Tier Global Format

At the heart of the WXV Global Series are 18 of the world’s best teams, split into two groups:

• Top 12 teams – Australia, Canada, England, France, Italy, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, USA, and Wales – will compete in a home-and-away cross-regional touring model during a newly aligned September–October international window. Crucially, unions will retain commercial rights to their home fixtures, allowing them to grow revenue and reinvest in player pathways.
• Teams ranked 13–18 – Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong China, Netherlands, Samoa, and Spain – will play their matches at a single destination tournament in 2026 and 2028, with costs covered by World Rugby to ease financial pressures and ensure meaningful competition.

This new structure guarantees annual high-level fixtures, fuels commercial growth, and ensures long-term sustainability for women’s rugby.

Direct Link to World Cup Qualification

The Series is fully integrated into the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 qualification pathway, providing progression opportunities for teams across both levels.

• The semi-finalists from RWC 2025 (Canada, England, France, and New Zealand) are already qualified.
• Eight more teams will qualify through 2027 regional competitions.
• Two will book their spots via the world rankings at the end of the 2027 Global Competition Window.
• The final berth will be decided through the 2028 WXV Global Series tournament for teams ranked 13–18, which will double up as a Final Qualification Tournament.

The 2027 season will also feature crossover fixtures for teams not involved in the inaugural British & Irish Lions Women’s Tour to New Zealand, further broadening the competitive landscape.

Growing Momentum in Women’s Rugby

The announcement comes at a time when women’s rugby is enjoying unprecedented growth.

• The Guinness Women’s Six Nations continues to break records, including a 58,498-strong crowd for England v France in 2023.
• In North America, USA v Canada in the Pacific Four Series drew a sell-out in Kansas City.
• The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England has already attracted more than 300,000 fans and over 435 million video views on World Rugby channels, underlining the sport’s rising global appeal.

Reaction from World Rugby Leadership

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson hailed the launch as “another landmark moment” for the women’s game:

“The launch of the WXV Global Series marks another landmark moment for the women’s game, following what will be an era-defining Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.

“It delivers on our commitment to raise standards, provide consistent and competitive fixtures, and create sustainable commercial outcomes. Working closely with players and unions, this model creates the platform for women’s rugby to reach its full potential on and off the field.”

World Rugby Director of High Performance Nicky Ponsford added:

“This announcement builds on the growing momentum in women’s rugby. With the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 set to be the most attended and most viewed tournament in history, the WXV Global Series now offers unions, players, and leagues certainty for the next three years while ensuring quality competition across the cycle.”

A New Era for the Global Women’s Game

By combining certainty of fixtures, expanded commercial opportunities, and a direct World Cup pathway, the WXV Global Series represents one of the most significant structural shifts in women’s rugby history.

From 2026 onwards, fans around the globe can expect a packed calendar of high-stakes international clashes, as the women’s game continues its rapid rise towards Rugby World Cup 2029 in Australia.