WXV 3: Opening weekend team news as Spain, Fiji ring changes

Madagascar will make their WXV 3 debut on Friday when they face Spain, who narrowly missed out on the 2023 title, in the United Arab Emirates at 19:00 local time (GMT+4).

The action at The Sevens Stadium will continue on Saturday as Fiji take on another debutant, Hong Kong China (kick-off 18:00), before the Netherlands become the third team to play their first match in the competition, against Samoa at 20:30.

Get all the team news for the opening weekend of WXV 3 matches below as and when it drops.

Spain v Madagascar

Spain head coach Juan Gonzalez Marruecos has made seven changes to the team beaten by South Africa in their final warm-up match in Cape Town last week.

Props Inés Antolínez and Sidorella Bracic form a new front row alongside hooker and captain Cris Blanco, while flankers Lía Piñeiro and María Calvo start either side of Gloucester-Hartpury number eight Carmen Castellucci.

In the backs, there are starts for scrum-half Anne Fernández de Corres and outside centre Claudia Cano.

Madgascar head coach Alain Randriamihaja has made one personnel and several positional changes to the side beaten 63-19 by Kenya in Nairobi last Friday.

The one personnel change comes in the pack where tighthead prop Fenitra Razafindramanga returns to the front row and lock Felana Rakotoarison drops out.

However, there are three positional switches up front. Laurence Rasoanandrasana moves from hooker to number eight, while Nanou Razafializay wears two instead of three and Sarindra Sahondramalala moves into the second row from the base of the scrum.

Spain: 15. Claudia Peña, 14. Claudia Pérez, 13. Claudia Cano, 12. Zahía Pérez, 11. Clara Piquero, 10. Amalia Argudo, 9. Anne Fernández de Corres, 1. Inés Antolínez, 2. Cris Blanco (captain), 3. Sidorella Bracic, 4. Nadina Cisa, 5. Lourdes Alameda, 6. Lía Piñeiro, 7. María Calvo, 8. Carmen Castellucci.

Replacements: 16. Marieta Román, 17. María del Castillo, 18. Laura Delgado, 19. Elena Martínez, 20. Alba Capell, 21. Lucía Díaz, 22. Maider Aresti, 23. Martina Márquez.

Madagascar: 15. Tiana Razanamahefa, 14. Claudia Rasoarimalala, 13. Veronique Rasoanekena, 12. Valisoa Razanakiniana, 11. Zaya Fanantenana, 10. Marie Bodonandrianina, 9. Joela Mirasoa Fenohasina, 1. Mamisoa Rasoarimalala, 2. Nanou Razafializay, 3. Fenitra Razafindramanga, 4. Oliviane Andriatsilavina, 5. Sarindra Sahondramalala, 6. Sariaka Nomenjanahary, 7. Delphine Raharimalala, 8. Laurence Rasoanandrasana.

Replacements: 16. Miora Rabarivelo, 17. Nomenjanahary Rakotozafi, 18. Eleonore Rasoanantenaina, 19. Felana Rakotoarison, 20. Volatiana Rasoanandrasana, 21. Vonjimalala Ranorovololona, 22. Olivia Hanitriniaina, 23. Voahirana Razafiarisoa.

Fiji v Hong Kong China

Fiji head coach Mosese Rauluni has made nine personnel changes to the team that was beaten by WXV 3 rivals Netherlands last week.

Bitila Tawake, Vika Matarugu and Ana Korovata form an all-new front row, while Mereoni Nakesa comes in at lock to partner Asinate Serevi. Sulita Waisega moves to openside flanker, meanwhile, and is joined in the back row by Nunia Delaimoala and captain Karalaini Naisewa.

Scrum-half Evivi Senikarivi and fly-half Salanieta Kinita come into the back line, with Ivamere Nabura moving to inside centre alongside Adita Milinia. Luisa Tisolo comes in at full-back and lines up between Kolora Lomani and Repeka Adi Tove in the back three.

Winger Lucia Bolton will make her Test debut, while replacement front-row forward Shun Ka Lee will become Hong Kong China’s most-capped women’s player if called upon in Dubai.

Bolton’s inclusion is one of four personnel changes to the team that secured their place at the tournament with a 22-0 defeat of Kazakhstan in June.

Micayla Baltazar comes into the second row in place of sister Chloe, who is on the bench, while Jessica Ho is set for her first appearance since May 2023 at scrum-half and Sabay Lynam has been given the nod at full-back.

Replacement back Haruka Uematsu will win her first cap if called upon from the bench on Saturday, while Lee is in line to win a record 34th.

Fiji: 15. Luisa Tisolo, 14. Repeka Adi Tove, 13. Adita Milinia, 12. Ivamere Nabura, 11. Kolora Lomani, 10. Salanieta Kinita, 9. Evivi Senikarivi, 1. Bitila Tawake, 2. Vika Matarugu, 3. Ana Korovata, 4. Mereoni Nakesa, 5. Asinate Serevi, 6. Nunia Delaimoala, 7. Sulita Waisega, 8. Karalaini Naisewa (captain).

Replacements: 16. Keleni Marawa, 17. Salanieta Nabuli, 18. Tiana Robanakadavu, 19. Aviame Veidreyaki, 20. Alfreda Fisher, 21. Ema Adivitaloga, 22. Setaita Railumu, 23. Litiana Lawedrau.

Hong Kong China: 15. Sabay Lynam, 14. Chong Ka Yan, 13. Natasha Olson-Thorne, Gabriella Rivers, 11. Lucia Bolton, 10. Fung Hoi-Ching, 9. Jessica Ho, 1. Lau Nga Wun, 2. Tanya Dhar, 3. Kea Herewini, 4. Roshini Turner, 5. Micayla Baltazar, 6. Pun Wai Yan (captain), 7. Chan Tsz Ching, 8. Shanna Forrest.

Replacements: 16. Fion Got, 17. Tsang Hoi Laam, 18. Lee Ka Shun, 19. Chloe Baltazar, 20. Karen So, 21. Wan Tsz Yau, 22. Zoe Smith, 23. Haruka Uematsu.

Netherlands v Samoa

The Netherlands have made just two personnel and one positional change for their WXV debut from the team that beat Samoa’s Pacific Island neighbours Fiji.

Hooker Julia Morauw comes in for Anoushka Beukers, who starts on the bench, while in the backs, Pien Selbeck comes into midfield with Linneke Gevers shifting to outside centre and Isa Suzanne Annemijn Spoler dropping out of the squad altogether.

Exeter Chiefs second row Linde van der Velden will captain the team.

Samoa head coach Ramsey Tomokino has made five changes to the side that lost the final match of the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship to Fiji in June.

Loosehead prop Ti Tauasosi and hooker Lulu Leuta come into the front row, while Ana-Lise Sio partners Easter Savelio at lock.

The other two changes come in the back three, where left winger Davina Lasini and full-back Drenna Falaniko are handed starts.

Netherlands: 15. Lieve Stallmann, 14. Kika Mulling, 13. Linneke Gevers, 12. Pien Selbeck, 11. Gaya van Nifterik, 10. Pleuni Kievit, 9. Esmee Ligtvoet, 1. Anouk Veerkamp, 2. Julia Morauw, 3. Nicky Dix, 4. Linde van der Velden (captain), 5. Inger Jongerius, 6. Elisabeth Boot, 7. Mariet Luijken, 8. Isa Prins.

Replacements: 16. Anoushka Beukers, 17. Sydney de Weijer, 18. Jara Bunnik, 19. Mhina de Vos, 20. Noah Demba, 21. Morgane Ter Cock, 22. Lisa Egberts, 23. Emma van Traa.

Samoa: 15. Drenna Falaniko, 14. Linda Fiafia, 13. Tyra Boysen, 12. France Bloomfield, 11. Davina Lasini, 10. Cassie Siataga, 9. Ana Afuie, 1. Ti Tauasosi, 2. Lulu Leuta, 3. Ana Mamea, 4. Easter Savelio, 5. Ana-Lise Sio, 6. Utumalama Atonio, 7. Sui Pauaraisa (captain), 8. Nina Foaese.

Replacements: 16. Avau Filimaua, 17. Denise Aiolupotea, 18. Tori Iosefo, 19. Sydney Niupulusu, 20. Joanna Fanene Lolo, 21. Saelua Leaula, 22. Harmony Vatau, 23. Lutia Col Aumua.