"Ireland Qualify for 2025 World Cup" – Women's Rugby Round-Up As Red Roses Win Six Nations Grand Slam

30/04/2024 14:33

It has been a whirlwind weekend in the world of Women’s rugby, as just when one tournament comes to an end, another begins on a different continent. This past weekend saw the epic finale of the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, as England claimed the Grand Slam out in Boardeaux. Meanwhile, the Pacific Four Series has begun, and Canada marked the occasion by achieving a big opening round win over the United States.

With the excitement in England continuing to build ahead of next year’s home-soil Women’s Rugby World Cup, the Red Roses have once again stamped their authority on the Northern Hemisphere. All eyes now turn to the Pacific Four Series, to see how the Black Ferns of New Zealand are preparing following their WXV defeats last Autumn.

Here is a full recap of this past weekend’s international women’s rugby, as we witnessed England retain their Six Nations title for a staggering sixth consecutive time.

ENGLAND WIN 2024 WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS GRAND SLAM

John Mitchell has certainly started off his time in charge of the Red Roses in style, as the head coach oversaw his first Women’s Six Nations triumph. England impressed as they travelled out to Boardeaux this past weekend, and handed France a 42-21 defeat to take home the trophy. Alex Matthews grabbed a brace out in Boardeaux, which along with tries from Maud Muir, Meg Jones, Marlie Packer and Amy Cokayne build a formidable lead.

Holly Aitchison impressed from the kicking tee, as she sent all six conversions successfully through the posts. France rallied their best response in front of the hostile home supporters, yet their trio of tries did little to dent the lead built by the ruthless Red Roses. Les Bleus crossed the whitewash through Gabrielle Vernier and two from Marine Menager, whilst the sharpshooting continued from the boot of Lina Queyroi.

Should England continue this dominance of the Women’s Six Nations for the 2025 Championship, they will equal the record for the most consecutive titles won. When the likes of Maggie Alphonsi and Nolli Watermann ran the Red Roses, England racked up seven consecutive title wins from 2006 to 2012. A seventh title on the bounce is possible for 2025, and would be the perfect winning momentum to roll into the following Autumn’s Women’s Rugby World Cup.

IRELAND QUALIFY FOR 2025 WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP

Ireland were the stand-out underdog story of the 2024 Women’s Six Nations, as following their third place finish in the tournament, they have qualified for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Helmed by former Red Roses coach Scott Bemand, Ireland were a rejuvenated team and looked a far cry better than the side which took the wooden spoon last year.

Former Leicester Tigers and Harlequins scrum half, Bemand has been instrumental to Ireland’s newfound successes, with his co-captains Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon leading the way on the pitch. Ireland got a taste for success in last Autumn’s WXV3 competition, with wins over Kazakhstan, Colombia and Spain taking home the title. Ireland took this winning feeling into the 2024 Six Nations, and achieved impressive wins against Wales and Scotland.

WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS IMPACT ON 2024 WXV

The standings at the end of the 2024 Women’s Six Nations, determines where each country is seeded for this Autumn’s WXV global competition. After finishing in first, second and third respectively, England, France and Ireland have qualified for WXV1, and will jet off to Canada for the tournament. Fourth and fifth placed Scotland and Italy will once again battle it out for the WXV2 title, and they head down to South Africa.

After finishing sixth in the Women’s Six Nations, Wales will take on Spain, with the winner being added into WXV2. The losing side will drop down into WXV3, and go to Dubai this Autumn for the upcoming tournament’s third tier. The fixture between Wales and Spain is as yet unconfirmed, but the place holding date comes in at around the end of June.

2024 PACIFIC FOUR SERIES COMMENCES

There is no stopping the test match action in the women’s rugby calendar, as the 2024 Pacific Four Series commenced this past weekend. Contested between New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States, the Pacific Four Series is an exciting competition which equivalates to the annual Rugby Championship of the men’s game.

The action has commenced in North America, as Canada and the United States met this past Sunday for the tournament’s opening fixture. Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles was the venue, as Canada ran rampant for a 50-7 victory. Led out by their unstoppable captain, Saracens back-row Sophie de Goede, Canada pulled no punches from their continental counterparts, and left the Women’s Eagles seeing stars and stripes at full-time.

De Goede led from the front again, as she scored two tries and a total of 18 points. Claire Gallagher also bagged a brace in an impressive showing at half-back. The reigning world champions New Zealand begin their campaign on May 11th, as they welcome the United States to their home turf.

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