WXV: Permutations Confirmed for 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup Qualifications
10/09/2024 04:50 AM
The final round of 2024 WXV takes place this weekend, with plenty on the line in the three tiered global tournament. The stakes don’t get much higher than Women’s Rugby World Cup qualification, with the permutations confirmed on what each competing side needs to do, to book themselves a place in England at next year’s tournament.
WXV 2024 TITLE PERMUTATIONS
WXV 1 2024
The winner of Canada v England will be crowned WXV 1 champions.
If the title decider ends in a draw, England will be crowned champions even if only Canada claim a try-bonus point. This is because England have 10 points to Canada's nine and the better points difference (+58 to +35) going into the final round.
WXV 2 2024
Australia will be crowned champions if they avoid defeat against Scotland.
This is because a draw (without a four-try bonus point) would leave only South Africa able to match Australia's 12 competition points with a bonus-point defeat of Italy. The Wallaroos beat South Africa 33-26 last weekend so would be crowned champions on the head-to-head rule.
Scotland will be guaranteed a successful title defence if they secure a bonus-point win over Australia to finish on 13 points.
A smaller margin of victory could see Australia, Scotland and South Africa all finish on 12 points.
In this scenario, points difference would be used to determine the champions. The remaining two sides would be split by the head-to-head rule, if applicable, and if not points difference.
WXV 3 2024
Spain will be crowned WXV 3 champions if they beat Fiji in the final match of the tournament.
A draw would be sufficient to crown Spain as champions if Samoa fail to beat Madagascar.
Samoa can secure the WXV 3 title if they beat Madagascar and Spain get nothing from their match with Fiji.
If Spain and Samoa were both to finish level on competition points then it is likely that Las Leonas would be crowned champions given they currently have a points difference of +75.
Fiji cannot win the title if Samoa beat Madagascar on Friday.
If Madagascar win then Fiji will claim the title if they finish with either the same or more competition points than Spain. This is because the head-to-head rule would place Fiji above Spain.
WOMEN'S RUGBY WORLD CUP 2025 QUALIFICATION
WXV 2 2024
Japan and South Africa have already secured their place through the regional qualification process.
Australia, Italy, Scotland and Wales will qualify for Women's RWC 2025.
WXV 3 2024
Fiji have already secured their place through the regional qualification process.
Samoa will qualify for a first Women's Rugby World Cup since 2014 if they beat Madagascar on Friday.
Spain will qualify for England 2025 if they avoid defeat against Fiji.
There are two ways that Las Leonas' qualification could be confirmed before they take to the field.
The first is if Samoa lose to Madagascar and fail to get two bonus points in defeat, meaning only one team (Hong Kong China) could match or surpass Spain's tally of nine competition points.
The second is if Hong Kong China fail to beat the Netherlands in the first match on Saturday.
It is also possible for Spain to qualify for Women's RWC 2025 even if they lose to Fiji, depending what happened in the two earlier matches.
If Spain, Samoa and Hong Kong China were all to finish on the same competition points (nine or 10) then points difference would be used to determine the two qualifiers. Spain currently have a far superior points difference to their rivals (+103 to Samoa's +28 and Hong Kong China's -4).
The Netherlands can, mathematically, still qualify for England 2025 but it would need a certain set of results and a 49-point difference swing for that to happen.
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