2023 WXV

The 2023 WXV was the first edition of WXV, a women's international rugby union group tournament for senior national teams organised by World Rugby, and took place between 13 October and 4 November. The competition featured three divisions of six nations each, evenly divided across two pools. Participating teams were determined by regional competitions and play-in matches. Wellington, Dunedin, and Auckland in New Zealand hosted the first-division WXV 1. Stellenbosch and Cape Town in South Africa hosted WXV 2, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates hosted WXV 3.

England, Scotland and Ireland respectively won their competitions by all going unbeaten, while Scotland edged Italy by points difference.

Format
The competition was a group tournament featuring a league system of three divisions with six teams each: WXV 1, WXV 2 and WXV 3. Within each division, the six teams were evenly divided into two pools; teams played a match against each team in the other pool. World Rugby tournaments typically award four competition points to teams for winning a match, two points for a draw, and no points for a loss. A bonus point is also awarded for scoring four or more tries in a match, or losing by seven or less match points. Classification tiebreakers are decided in order of: the result of matches between tied teams, match points difference, tries difference, match points for, tries for, and world rank. At the end of the competition, promotion and relegation between the regional position of the first-placed WXV 3 team and the regional position of the last-placed WXV 2 team will occur ahead of the next edition. The last-placed team in WXV 3 will also play-off against the team with the highest world rank that did not participate in the competition, for a spot in WXV 3 in the next edition. No promotion or relegation between WXV 1 and WXV 2 will take place in the inaugural season.

Qualification


Participants in the competition were determined by regional competitions and play-offs matches staged in 2023. The top three teams of that year's Six Nations and Pacific Four series were placed in WXV 1. The fourth-placed team in both tournaments were placed in WXV 2 alongside that year's African, Asian and Oceanian champions; their runners-up were placed in WXV 3 alongside the sixth-placed Six Nations team. The winners of a play-in between the fifth-placed Six Nations team and the European champions were placed in WXV 2, while the losers were placed in WXV 3 alongside the winners of a play-off between the only two active Sudamérica Rugby women's national teams, and.

The South American play-off was a two-match series on 5 and 9 July in Medellín, Colombia. It was preceded by the 2023 Americas Rugby Trophy, the first South American tournament for women's national teams sanctioned by World Rugby. A match in the tournament between Brazil and Colombia was decided by a late try by Juliana Soto, helping Colombia win 18–15. It was the closest Brazil had ever come to defeating Colombia up to that point. In the opening match, Colombia scored thrice before half-time, including a double from Valentina Álvarez. Brazil mounted a comeback in the second half though, as the pressure of two yellow cards on Colombia's defence helped facilitate a controversial late try by Lohana Valente; evidence that she had grounded the ball was unclear. However, the attempt to convert it failed, and the match ended with Colombia leading the series by a single point. The second match was decisive, with Colombia scoring four unanswered tries, including a hat-trick by Leidy Soto, who was recognised as critical in Colombia's victory. Two late penalty tries for Brazil were not enough to overcome the 54–42 aggregate score, and thus Colombia earned qualification to WXV 3.

The European play-off was a single match between Italy and Spain on 22 July in Piacenza, Italy. Italy played their first game at the Stadio Walter Beltrametti and made a comfortable four-try defeat of Spain, and consequently earning qualification to WXV 2. Despite a notable offensive effort early in the second half, Spain failed to score a single point in the match, settling for a place in WXV 3.

WXV 2/WXV 3 play-off match
Notes

Match officials
World Rugby named the following 18 referees, one assistant referee and seven television match officials:


 * WXV 1
 * Referees
 * Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
 * 🇳🇿 Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Sara Cox (England)
 * Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
 * 🇮🇹/🇳🇿 Lauren Jenner (Italy/New Zealand)
 * 🇦🇺 Amber McLachlan (Australia)
 * Television match officials
 * 🇦🇺 Rachel Horton (Australia)
 * Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Ian Tempest (England)


 * WVX 2
 * Referees
 * 🇳🇿 Natarsha Ganley (New Zealand)
 * 🇫🇷 Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
 * 🇮🇹 Clara Munarini (Italy)
 * 🇺🇸 Kat Roche (United States)
 * Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Holly Wood (England)
 * Television match officials
 * Leo Colgan (Ireland)
 * Quinton Immelman (South Africa)


 * WXV 3
 * Referees
 * 🇫🇷 Doriane Domenjo (France)
 * 🇦🇺 Ella Goldsmith (Australia)
 * 🇯🇵 Ano Kuwai (Japan)
 * 🇩🇪 Maria Latos (Germany)
 * 🇺🇸 Amelia Luciano (United States)
 * 🇧🇪 Adele Robert (Belgium)


 * Assistant Referees
 * 🇭🇰 Sunny Lee (Hong Kong)


 * Television match officials
 * 🇨🇦 Andrew Hosie (Canada)
 * 🇮🇹 Matteo Liperini (Italy)

WXV 1
The 2023 WXV 1 was staged in New Zealand between 20 October and 4 November. The first round took place at Wellington's Regional Stadium, the second round at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, and the final round at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland. England, France and Wales played matches against Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

WXV 2
The 2023 WXV 2 was staged in South Africa between 13 and 28 October. The first round took place at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch, while the second and final rounds were hosted by Athlone Stadium in Cape Town. Each round featured a Friday double-header, followed by a Saturday match. Samoa, Scotland and Italy played matches against Japan, South Africa and the United States.

The relegation of Samoa, and Ireland's victory in WXV 3, means that Europe gain a place in WXV 2 for 2024 at the expense of Oceania. The fourth and fifth team in the 2024 Women's Six Nations Championship will both automatically qualify for WXV 2 in 2024, with the sixth placed team facing the winner of the Rugby Europe Women's Championship for a place in WXV 2. The winner and runner up in the Oceania Cup will both enter WXV 3 in 2024.

WXV 3
The 2023 WXV 3 was hosted entirely at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai between 13 and 28 October 2023. Like WXV 2, each round featured a Friday double-header, followed by a Saturday match. Fiji, Ireland and Kenya played matches against Colombia, Kazakhstan and Spain.

Ireland's victory, and the relegation of Samoa from WXV 2, means that Europe gain a place in WXV 2 for 2024 at the expense of Oceania. The fourth and fifth team in the 2024 Six Nations will both automatically qualify for WXV 2, with the sixth place team facing the winner of the Rugby Europe Women's Championship for a place in WXV 3. The winner and runner up in the Oceania Cup will both enter WXV 3 for 2024.