Revolutionising the women’s international rugby landscape
Following its impactful launch in October 2023, the newly revamped WXV Global Series remains central to World Rugby’s ambition to accelerate the growth of the women’s game. The Series provides more competitive matches for unions, greater profile and investment on the road to Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2029 taking place in Australia.
All eyes on WXV Global Series 2026
World champions England will kick off an exciting new stage of WXV rugby in September, when they host Australia in Salford, north-west England, on the opening weekend of the all-new WXV Global Series presented by Mitsubishi Electric.
During the eight-week global window from 12 September through to 31 October, the 12 top-ranked sides in the world – Australia, Canada, England, France, Italy, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, USA, and Wales – will take part in a home-and-away cross-regional touring WXV Global Series.
In total, more than 100 internationals will take place in the three years leading up to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 Australia, including a total 36 in this autumn’s globe-trotting international window alone.
WXV Global Series Challenger
While the world’s 12 top-ranked sides travel the globe in the home-and-away travelling series, the next six leading nations in the fast-growing women’s game – Fiji, Hong Kong China, Netherlands, Samoa, Spain and Brazil – will go head-to-head in a three-week WXV Global Series Challenger tournament at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong, as WXV evolves from a three- to a two-level system.
Road to Women's Rugby World Cup 2029 Qualification
Australia 2029 teams will be determined through:
Australia automatically qualified as host union.
RWC 2025 final placing with Canada, England, France and New Zealand having qualified after making the semi-finals.
Eight teams through 2027 regional competitions.
The best two non-qualified teams via World Rugby Women’s Rankings at the end of the 2027 international window.
Final place decided by the WXV Global Series Challenger 2028, which will serve as the Final Qualification Tournament (FQT).
More information can be found at www.world.rugby/wxv
