WXV 3: Second round team news as Delgado returns to captain Spain

The Sevens Stadium hosts the second round of WXV 3 this weekend as the competition for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 qualification heats up.

Madagascar and Hong Kong China get the action underway in the United Arab Emirates at 19:00 local time (GMT+4) on Friday, before Fiji take on Samoa and the Netherlands face Spain on Saturday.

All the matches are available to stream live and for free via RugbyPass TV, where there is not a local broadcast deal in place.

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

Madagascar v Hong Kong China

Georgia Rivers and Zoe Smith have been drafted into the Hong Kong China line-up for their first ever match against Madagascar on Friday.

Smith kicked two conversions and a penalty to help her side to the 22-0 victory against Kazakhstan that confirmed their place in Dubai.

And having appeared as a second-half replacement in Hong Kong China’s opening defeat to Fiji, she has been given the nod on the left wing with Lucia Bolton dropping out of the squad.

The other change is also in the backs as Rivers is handed her first test start in the number 10 jersey and Fung Hoi-Ching, who kicked her side’s only points against Fijiana, is named among the replacements.

On the bench, prop Chan Hiu Tung and second row Chow Mei Nam could make their first appearances of the tournament.

Madagascar have made six personnel changes to the side that was beaten by Spain last Friday.

Hooker Nomenjanahary Rakotozafi comes into the front row with Nanou Razafializay, who wore the number two jersey against Las Leonas, moving to loosehead prop.

Felani Rakotoarison and Eleonore Rasoanantenaina come into the second row, with last week’s lock pairing, Oliviane Andriatsilavina and captain Sarindra Sahondramalala shifting to blindside flanker and No.8 respectively.

In the backs there is an all-new half-back pairing of Vonjimalala Ranorovololona and Voahirana Razafiarisoa, while Olivia Hanittrinaina comes in on the right wing and Claudia Rasoarimalala switches to the left.

Madagascar: 15. Tiana Razanamahefa, 14. Olivia Hanittrinaina, 13. Veronique Rasoanekena, 12. Valisoa Razanakiniana, 11. Claudia Rasoarimalala, 10. Voahirana Razafiarisoa, 9. Vonjimalala Ranorovololona, 1. Nanou Razafializay, 2. Nomenjanahary Rakotozafi, 3. Fenitra Razafindramanga, 4. Felana Rakotoarison, 5. Eleonore Rasoanantenaina, 6. Oliviane Andriatsilavina, 7. Delphine Raharimalala, 8. Sarindra Sahondramalala (captain).

Replacements: 16. Mamisoa Rasoarimalala, 17. Laurence Rasoanandrasana, 18. Miora Rabarivelo, 19. Sariaka Nomenjanahary, 20. Volatiana Rasoanandrasana, 21. Joela Mirasoa Fenohasina, 22. Marie Bodonandrianina, 23. Zaya Fanantenana.

Hong Kong China: 15. Sabay Lynam, 14. Chong Ka Yan, 13. Natasha Olson-Thorne, 12. Gabriella Rivers, 11. Zoe Smith, 10. Georgia Rivers, 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. Chan Hiu Tung, 18. Lee Ka Shun, 19. Chloe Baltazar, 20. Chow Mei Nam, 21. Wan Tsz Yau, 22. Fung Hoi-Ching, 23. Uematsu Haruka.

Fiji v Samoa

Fiji head coach Mosese Rauluni has made three personnel changes to the team that beat Hong Kong China in the opening round.

Hooker Loraini Senivutu comes into the front-row, with Vika Matarugu shifting to tighthead prop.

In the backs, fly-half Jennifer Ravutia has been selected to start alongside scrum-half Evivi Senikarivi and Talei Wilson is drafted in at inside centre in place of Ivamere Nabura, who drops out of the squad.

Salanieta Kinita, who wore the 10 jersey last Saturday, is named on the replacements’ bench where there is also a place for Merewairita Neivosa.

Ramsey Tomokino, meanwhile, has made six personnel changes to the Samoa side that was held to a draw by the Netherlands.

Manusina will take on Fiji with an all-new front row of Denise Aiolupotea, Avau Filimaua and Tori Iosefo, while Joanna Fanene Lolo comes in at No.8.

Centre Ruby Finau and full-back Karla Wright-Akeli come into the backline as France Bloomfield switches to scrum-half and Drenna Falaniko lines up on the left wing.

Fiji: 15. Luisa Tisolo, 14. Repeka Adi Tove, 13. Adita Milinia, 12. Talei Wilson, 11. Kolora Lomani, 10. Jennifer Ravutia, 9. Evivi Senikarivi, 1. Bitila Tawake, 2. Loraini Senivutu, 3. Vika Matarugu, 4. Mereoni Nakesa, 5. Asinate Servei, 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 Adivitalogo, 22. Salanieta Kinita, 23. Merewairita Neivosa.

Samoa: 15. Karla Wright-Akeli, 14. Linda Fiafia, 13. Tyra Boysen, 12. Ruby Finau, 11. Drenna Falaniko, 10. Cassie Siataga, 9. France Bloomfield, 1. Denise Aiolupotea, 2. Avau Filimaua, 3. Tori Iosefo, 4. Easter Savelio, 5. Ana-Lise Sio, 6. Utumalama Atonio, 7. Sui Pauaraisa (captain), 8. Joanna Fanene Lolo.

Replacements: 16. Ana Mamea, 17. Ti Tauasosi, 18. Angelica Uila, 19. Nina Foaese, 20. Sydney Niupulusu, 21. Ana Afuie, 22. Harmony Vatau, 23. Tietie Aiolupotea.

Netherlands v Spain

The Netherlands have made three changes as they chase a maiden victory against Spain in Dubai.

Hooker Anoushka Beukers and tighthead prop Brechtje Karst return to the front row, with Nicky Dix moving across to the loosehead.

The only other change comes in the backs, where Lisa Egberts starts at scrum-half and Esmee Ligtvoet shifts into the number 10 jersey.

Gwen van der Schoot and Marit Lemmens are drafted into the squad on the replacements’ bench as head coach Sylke Haverkorn again opts for a six-two splits between forwards and backs.

Harlequins prop Laura Delgado will captain Spain on Saturday having been recalled to the front row as one of five personnel changes for the match at The Sevens Stadium.

Delgado will line-up alongside hooker Cristina Blanco, who skippered the team to triumph against Madagascar, and tighthead prop Mireia de Andres, who is set to make her first Test start in Dubai.

The other changes in the pack come in the back row, where flankers Nerea García and Alba Capell have been recalled and will line-up either side of No.8 Carmen Castellucci.

Outside centre Alba Vinuesa is also back and replaces Claudia Cano, who drops to the bench.

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

Replacements: 16. Julia Morauw, 17. Sydney de Weijer, 18. Anouk Veerkamp, 19. Mhina de Vos, 20. Noah Demba, 21. Gwen van der Schoot, 22. Marit Lemmens, 23. Emma van Traa.

Spain: 15. Claudia Peña, 14. Claudia Perez, 13. Alba Vinuesa, 12. Zahia Perez, 11. Clara Piquero, 10. Amalia Argudo, 9. Anne Fernandez de Corres, 1. Laura Delgado (captain), 2. Cristina Blanco, 3. Mireia de Andres, 4. Nadina Cisa, 5. Lourdes Alameda, 6. Nerea García, 7. Alba Capell, 8. Carmen Castellucci.

Replacements: 16. Maria Roman Mallen, 17. Iñes Antolinez Fernandez, 18. Sidorella Bracic Rodriguez, 19. Elena Martinez, 20. Lina Piñeiro, 21. Lucia Diaz, 22. Claudia Cano, 23. Martina Marquez Alpanel.