What is WXV? All you need to know about the competition

The second edition of WXV kicks off this week, featuring 18 of the best teams in women’s rugby. Here’s all you need to know about the competition.

What is WXV?

WXV is an international women’s rugby tournament split across three levels. Each level features six teams, all of which must qualify through regional competitions each year.

The inaugural competition saw WXV 1 hosted in New Zealand, WXV 2 in South Africa, and WXV 3 in the United Arab Emirates.

This year will see Canada host WXV 1 for the first time in Vancouver and Langley, while WXV 2 and 3 return to Cape Town and Dubai.

Silverware is on offer for winners of each of the three levels, and competition takes place in a cross-pool format meaning each team plays in three matches.

Matches will take place on the same three consecutive weekends across all levels from 27 September until 12 October.

What is the purpose of WXV?

WXV provides teams with an increase in international competition outside of the existing regional tournaments.

This year, in the build-up to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, not only will those who have already qualified be able to flex their muscles as they prepare to compete in the biggest stage, but WXV also holds the six remaining qualification places for the RWC.

All teams in WXV 1 have already qualified, New Zealand, England, France, and Canada as a result of their top-four finishes at RWC 2021, and Ireland and the USA due to their placing at the 2024 Six Nations and Pacific Four Series respectively.

From WXV 2, South Africa and Japan have already qualified due to winning the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and Asia Rugby Women’s Championship. At the completion of the tournament, Scotland, Italy, Wales, and Australia will have their places confirmed.

The pressure is on in WXV 3 as the final two places at RWC 2025 are on the line. Fiji, who secured their place in England next year by winning the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship in 2024 can focus on their preparation, but the remaining five teams will battle for the last two places.

Hong Kong China, Madagascar, the Netherlands, Samoa, and Spain are all in contention, and the places will be won by the two highest-finshing teams (behind Fiji if they finish in the top two).

Who won in 2023?

The inaugural competition saw three teams take their first-ever WXV title. England took the spoils in WXV 1and were crowned champions after beating old foes New Zealand in their final match, taking three wins from three in the process.

Two of England's Six Nations counterparts also triumphed in 2023 as Scotland won WXV 2 on points difference ahead of Italy and Ireland rounded off a dominant campaign in Dubai with a hard-fought victory against Spain to take the WXV 3 title.

How do teams qualify for WXV?

Qualifcation for WXV is decided by the outcomes of regional tournaments. Teams can only qualify for WXV through this process, meaning that no place at any level is guaranteed, even for the previous winners.

WXV 1 places were awarded to the top three teams at the Women’s Six Nations (England, France, and Ireland) and the top three teams at the Pacific Four Series (Canada, New Zealand, and the USA). Ireland and the USA will both compete in WXV 1 for the first time this year, moving up from WXV 3 and WXV 2.

WXV 2 features the fourth and fifth-placed teams from the 2024 Women’s Six Nations (Scotland and Italy), the winners of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup (South Africa) and Asia Rugby Women’s Championship (Japan), and the winner (Wales) of the playoff between the Six Nations sixth place (Wales) and winner of the Rugby Europe Women's Championship (Spain).

Due to Samoa finishing sixth in WXV 2 2023, two teams from Oceania will compete in the third level as Fiji return as regional champions alongside the Manusina.

The Asia Rugby Women’s Championship runners-up (Hong Kong China) and Rugby Africa Women’s Cup runners-up (Madagascar) take their place with the winner (Netherlands) of the play-off against Colombia, last year's bottom-placed side, and Spain, the losers of the WXV 2/WXV 3 play-off against Wales.

How can I watch WXV?

There are a variety of ways fans can watch WXV. Firstly, for those who are able to, tickets are on sale for all three levels.

WXV 1 tickets can be bought here and are sold as day passes. Matches will take place at BC Place, Vancouver, on the opening and closing weekends, and Willoughby Stadium at Langley Events Centre on the middle weekend.

WXV 2 will be held at DHL Stadium and Athlone Sports Stadium with prices starting at R35 for adults, one ticket granting access to all matches per round. Buy tickets for WXV 2 here.

WXV 3, held at The Sevens Stadium, will enable fans to watch the battle for RWC 2025 places for free.

For viewers in the UK, all WXV 1 and WXV 2 matches will be streamed on BBC iPlayer.

Fans will also be able to watch the matches on RugbyPass TV (when not shown by a local broadcaster, geo-restrictions apply).

WXV 2024, ins and outs:

WXV 1:

In: Ireland, USA

Out: Australia, Wales

WXV 2:

In: Australia, Wales

Out: USA, Samoa

WXV 3:

In: Samoa, Hong Kong China, Madagascar, Netherlands

Out: Ireland, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Kenya

The full match schedule is available on the WXV website.