Women’s XV Rugby 2026
Launched in 2023, WXV was created as a new annual international women’s rugby competition, bringing together teams from around the world across three tiers. The competition has been redesigned for 2026, with the former WXV 1, WXV 2 and WXV 3 format replaced by the WXV Global Series. The new competition brings together 18 leading women’s rugby nations and is designed to provide more regular, meaningful international fixtures as the sport builds towards the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 in Australia.
What is WXV rugby?
WXV is World Rugby’s international women’s rugby competition, created to give leading women’s teams more regular opportunities to play against high-quality opposition.
For 2026, WXV has evolved into a new two-level WXV Global Series involving 18 national teams. The top 12 teams will compete in a home-and-away, cross-regional format, while six other nations will contest the WXV Global Series Challenger in Hong Kong.
The change is intended to strengthen the women’s international rugby calendar and give teams more meaningful matches between Women’s Rugby World Cups.
Which teams are playing in WXV 2026?
The main WXV Global Series 2026 features 12 of the world’s leading women’s rugby nations:
These teams will play in a home-and-away, cross-regional touring competition rather than gathering at one central tournament venue.
The opening weekend includes some particularly attractive fixtures. Reigning Women’s Rugby World Cup champions England host Australia in Salford, while Scotland face 2025 World Cup finalists Canada and France meet New Zealand.
There is also a repeat of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup final to look forward to, with England and Canada meeting again in October.
WXV Global Series Challenger teams
The other six nations involved in WXV 2026 are:
These teams will compete in the inaugural WXV Global Series Challenger, which is being hosted in Hong Kong. The Challenger is designed to provide these nations with a concentrated block of high-quality international rugby while helping strengthen the global women’s game.
When is WXV rugby 2026 being played?
The main WXV Global Series 2026 takes place during an eight-week international window from 12 September to 31 October 2026.
The competition begins in England and concludes in South Africa, with matches taking place across 13 countries. There are 30 matches in the main Global Series. The international window has deliberately been designed to create a more consistent period for women’s Test rugby.
WXV 2026 dates
WXV Global Series:
12 September – 31 October 2026
WXV Global Series Challenger:
13 – 26 September 2026
The Challenger is being played at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground in Hong Kong across three match days, with three matches taking place on each day.
WXV Global Series Challenger fixtures
The six-team Challenger begins on 13 September.
Round 1 – 13 September
- Spain vs Fiji
- Hong Kong China vs Brazil
- Netherlands vs Samoa
Round 2 – 19 September
- Samoa vs Spain
- Hong Kong China vs Fiji
- Brazil vs Netherlands
Round 3 – 26 September
- Fiji vs Netherlands
- Hong Kong China vs Samoa
- Spain vs Brazil
That means fans in Hong Kong will see nine international women’s rugby matches across three weekends.
Why has WXV changed?
The biggest reason for the new WXV format is the continued growth of women’s rugby.
The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 generated enormous interest in the sport, and World Rugby is looking to build on that momentum by providing more international rugby between World Cups.
The new WXV Global Series is designed to deliver several key benefits.
More competitive women’s rugby fixtures
International teams need regular opportunities to test themselves against strong opposition. The new WXV structure gives the world’s leading teams a series of cross-regional fixtures, creating more meaningful matches throughout the year. For developing nations, the Challenger provides an equally important opportunity to play several international matches in a concentrated tournament.
A stronger women’s rugby calendar
One of the challenges facing women’s rugby has been developing a consistent global calendar. World Rugby says the new eight-week window is intended to make international rugby more predictable while allowing unions to host matches in their home markets. That is important for supporters, broadcasters, sponsors and the teams themselves.
More opportunities for investment
The home-and-away format also allows national unions to host international matches and retain commercial rights. The idea is that stronger commercial opportunities can help generate further investment in women’s rugby, including national teams, player pathways and the development of the women’s game.
Developing more nations
WXV is not only about the traditional women’s rugby powerhouses.
Teams such as Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong China, the Netherlands, Samoa and Spain are being given a dedicated international competition through the WXV Global Series Challenger. More regular high-level matches can help these teams develop their players, improve their world rankings and build stronger domestic programmes.
WXV and the road to the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup
The new WXV Global Series also has an important role to play in the build-up to the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Australia will host the tournament, while England, Canada, New Zealand and France have already qualified as the top four teams from the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. That leaves 13 teams competing for 11 remaining places.
Eight places will be decided through regional qualification competitions in 2027, while two further teams will qualify through the World Rugby Women’s Rankings. The final place will be decided through the WXV Global Series Challenger in 2028.
This means that the new WXV structure is about more than simply providing another tournament for rugby fans to watch.
It is part of a longer-term plan to create a stronger international pathway towards the next Women’s Rugby World Cup.
What can fans expect from WXV rugby 2026?
There is plenty to look forward to in the first WXV Global Series.
England will begin their campaign as world champions, while Australia, Canada, New Zealand and France will all be looking to establish themselves among the world’s leading teams.
The competition also brings some intriguing new rivalries and cross-regional fixtures. World Rugby has highlighted the meetings between South Africa and Ireland, Scotland and Australia, and USA and Italy, alongside multiple contests between New Zealand and France.
WXV Rugby 2026: The bigger picture
The WXV Global Series 2026 represents an important step in the development of women’s international rugby.
With 18 nations involved, a dedicated eight-week international window and more than 100 international fixtures planned across the 2026–28 cycle, World Rugby is aiming to create a more sustainable and competitive international women’s game. The new format also gives emerging rugby nations more opportunities to compete, while giving established teams regular tests against opponents from different parts of the world.
Ultimately, WXV is designed to ensure that the excitement generated by the Women’s Rugby World Cup continues throughout the four-year cycle. And with the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup already on the horizon, WXV rugby 2026 could be the beginning of a significant new chapter for the women’s game.
WXV Rugby 2026 FAQs
When does WXV rugby 2026 start?
The WXV Global Series begins on 12 September 2026 and runs until 31 October 2026.
How many teams are playing in WXV 2026?
There are 18 teams involved in the new WXV Global Series: 12 in the main Global Series and six in the WXV Global Series Challenger.
Who is hosting the WXV Global Series Challenger?
Hong Kong is hosting the six-team WXV Global Series Challenger from 13 to 26 September 2026.
What happened to WXV 1, WXV 2 and WXV 3?
The three-level WXV structure has been replaced for 2026 by a two-level WXV Global Series, consisting of the main Global Series and the Global Series Challenger.
Why was WXV changed?
The new structure is designed to provide more consistent, high-quality international fixtures, strengthen the women’s rugby calendar, support player development and build towards the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Fixtures
Round 1 — 12–13 September
| Date | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 12 September | England 48-15 Australia |
| Saturday 12 September | France 14-28 New Zealand |
| Saturday 12 September | Scotland 26-64 Canada |
Round 2 — 18–20 September
| Date | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Friday 18 September | Wales v South Africa |
| Saturday 19 September | Italy v Japan |
| Saturday 19 September | England v Canada |
| Saturday 19 September | France v Australia |
| Saturday 19 September | Scotland v New Zealand |
| Sunday 20 September | Ireland v USA |
Round 3 — 26–27 September
| Date | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 26 September | Italy v South Africa |
| Saturday 26 September | England v New Zealand |
| Saturday 26 September | Wales v USA |
| Saturday 26 September | Scotland v Australia |
| Saturday 26 September | France v Canada |
| Sunday 27 September | Ireland v Japan |
Round 4 — 16–18 October
| Date | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Friday 16 October | Canada v England |
| Saturday 17 October | Australia v Scotland |
| Saturday 17 October | New Zealand v France |
| Saturday 17 October | USA v Italy |
Round 5 — 23–25 October
| Date | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Friday 23 October | Australia v Scotland |
| Friday 23 October | Japan v Wales |
| Friday 23 October | Canada v England |
| Saturday 24 October | New Zealand v France |
| Saturday 24 October | South Africa v Ireland |
| Saturday 24 October | USA v Italy |
Round 6 — 30–31 October
| Date | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Friday 30 October | USA v England |
| Saturday 31 October | Japan v Wales |
| Saturday 31 October | New Zealand v France |
| Saturday 31 October | South Africa v Ireland |