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World Rugby's WXV a 'massive step forward'
By Josh Raisey
Captain of Scotland Women Rachel Malcolm has said the new WXV tournament that was announced this week is a “massive step forward” for the game.
World Rugby announced on Tuesday that it has invested £6.4million in the new “landmark” WXV tournament, which will launch in 2023 and feed into the expanded 2025 Rugby World Cup.
The competition will include 16 teams split into three tiers, with qualification based on regional tournaments including the Six Nations.
“I think it’s a massive step forward,” the 29-year-old said on the Scottish Rugby Podcast alongside Al Kellock, Chris Paterson and Jamie McMillan.
“I think we’ve seen more Tests within the women’s game in the last couple of years, particularly for Scotland having those extra autumn Tests, and it’s made a massive difference to us as a team in our development and our learning.
“To have these guaranteed fixtures in the calendar every year is massive for us and it will be the same for a number of other countries who don’t get a lot of Tests. It’s brilliant for women’s rugby just to keep pushing the game on and hopefully get more engagement with the women’s game as well because that will be massive as hopefully they will push the broadcasting side of it and get the game out there.
“The biggest thing is investment. Within the women’s game we’re not asking for a lot, we’re just asking for investment and this is exactly what this is. For us to progress and play at a better standard it does take that and I think it’s just brilliant to see that World Rugby’s showing that the women’s game is for the future and they are going to invest in it and they are going to get us out there.
“The only way we move forward over the next few years is to get more girls playing and get girls playing at a high standard and this is a brilliant opportunity for that.
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Latest Comments
I think it's the least likely possibility Ed.
Go to commentsScotland should win this one, considering they are the settled team compared to Australia. However, that is no guarantee that they will win. The Aussies tails is up, and they are throwing everything at the opposition.
When the Aussie fans cracked up and got angry when Joe Schmidt was appointed, I said to them to be patient, that he will get them on the right track. They said that he is not Australian and he won nothing. Second best. I should mind my own business because I don't know the Aussie ways, which is true as I'm SA.
However, now that he is bringing in results, they are all changing their minds. Joe is all in when he coaches a team. There is no team he supports more than the team he coaches. His quality is shining through properly now.
It's going to be a very tight game, much tighter than people realise. Both teams is playing exciting rugby right now. They both want to win. I'd even go as far as marking this game as the top game of the weekend.
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