It is a clash that will kick-start eight weeks of high-quality, thrilling test match women’s rugby. In September alone, 15 fixtures are slated to take place. Teams will play each other as part of a home-and-away cross-regional touring model during the eight-week global window.
On the opening weekend, Women’s Rugby World Cup runners-up Canada will start their European leg against Scotland in Edinburgh and France will host New Zealand in Lyon.
The Black Ferns will conclude their time in Europe against the Red Roses at Allianz Stadium, just one day shy of the year anniversary of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final.
In total, more than 100 test matches will take place between 2026 and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 in Australia.
The WXV Global Series also offers a path to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 qualification. Five places are already taken – by England, Canada, New Zealand, France and Australia – with the 11 remaining places being contended for by 13 nations.
Eight of those open slots will be filled at the conclusion of regional competitions hosted in 2027. The two best non-qualified teams, according to the World Rugby rankings, will also qualify at the end of the 2027 international window. In 2028, the final place will be decided at the WXV Global Series Challenger.
Here is a quick look at every WXV Global Series team before kick-off this weekend:
Australia
The Wallaroos face stern challenges in September. To start, they will take on the world champion Red Roses in Manchester, before taking on France a week later and then Scotland. In 2026, Australia have beaten Fiji 33-15, finished fourth in the Pacific Four Series and faced the Black Ferns in the Laurie O’Reilly Cup. The side, led by Director of Women’s High Performance, Tim Walsh, and an interim coaching staff, will be buoyed by the return of Tabua Tuinakauvadra from several injuries this calendar year.
Key player
Tabua Tuinakauvadra – The reigning Wallaroos Player of the Year has missed a lot of rugby this year but is finally back to full fitness for the WXV Global Series. A hard-carrying back-row, you can expect to see the 23-year-old make an impact with ball-in-hand and without.
September fixtures
- England vs Australia, Saturday 12 September, 15:00 (UTC+1)
- France vs Australia, Saturday 19 September, 16:45 (UTC+2)
- Scotland vs Australia, Saturday 26 September, 16:10 (UTC+1)
Canada
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 runners-up Canada have only banked a second-place finish at the Pacific Four Series. That finish came courtesy of a 36-14 loss to New Zealand in Kansas City, during a tournament in which head coach Kévin Rouet awarded a number of young stars with their test debuts. Canada’s first test will come against Scotland in Edinburgh, before they then take on England in a repeat of last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup final and conclude their time in Europe against France in La Rochelle.
Key player
Sophie de Goede – The incumbent World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year was a key figure in Canada’s second-place finish at the Pacific Four Series and in helping Saracens to their latest Premiership Women’s Rugby title. Ahead of September, the 27-year-old was renamed captain of her country.
September fixtures
- Scotland vs Canada, Saturday 12 September, 16:10 (UTC+1)
- England vs Canada, Saturday 19 September, 15:00 (UTC+1)
- France vs Canada, Saturday 26 September, 16:45 (UTC+2)
England
As things stand the Red Roses have won 38 test matches in a row and backed up their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 success with a fifth-consecutive Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam. John Mitchell has selected a vastly experienced squad for the WXV Global Series, with his collective group of 36 players possessing 1,234 international caps. The Red Roses will be challenged with each fixture, starting with Australia, before Canada come to Exeter and then the Black Ferns at Allianz Stadium.
Key player
Ellie Kildunne – One of the world’s most exciting players in attack, it is difficult to imagine Ellie Kildunne not having an impact across the WXV Global Series. Whether it is against Canada in a repeat of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final or against six-time world champions New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, expect stardust and cowboy hats to follow her everywhere.
September fixtures
- England vs Australia, Saturday 12 September, 15:00 (UTC+1)
- England vs Canada, Saturday 19 September, 15:00 (UTC+1)
- England vs New Zealand, Saturday 26 September, 15:00 (UTC+1)
France
François Ratier can be pleased with his early endeavours as France’s head coach. His side were Women’s Six Nations contenders when they welcomed England to Bordeaux in May. The Red Roses ultimately won that contest – to secure another Grand Slam. For September’s WXV Global Series fixtures, Ratier and his squad will be challenged. They face the Black Ferns in Lyon first up, before the Wallaroos roll into Aix-en-Provence and then Canada in La Rochelle.
Key player
Pauline Bourdon Sansus – The Stade Toulousain scrum-half has been installed as captain of France with Manae Feleu currently focusing on her medical studies. Already the 30-year-old is the leading light for Les Bleues on the field and has only seen her importance to her national team grow with a string of impressive Women’s Six Nations performances earlier this year.
September fixtures
- France vs New Zealand, Saturday 12 September, 16:45 (UTC+2)
- France vs Australia, Saturday 19 September, 16:45 (UTC+2)
- France vs Canada, Saturday 26 September, 16:45 (UTC+2)
Ireland
There is a lot to like about Scott Bemand’s Ireland team. At this year’s Women’s Six Nations the side finished third, concluding their tournament in front of a record home crowd of 31,294 at the first standalone women’s rugby fixture at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Dublin will play host to the team’s first WXV Global Series fixture when the USA Women’s Eagles visit Tallaght Stadium on Sunday 20 September. A week later Ireland will host Japan at Galway’s Dexcom Stadium.
Key player
Aoife Wafer – Named Player of the Championship for her efforts in the Women’s Six Nations for a second year in a row in 2026, there is a feeling that Aoife Wafer is only beginning to unlock her potential. In attack the 23-year-old is virtually untouchable and operates in a high-performing back-row with Ireland captain Erin King and Brittany Hogan.
September fixtures
- Ireland vs USA, Sunday 20 September, 13:45 (UTC+1)
- Ireland vs Japan, Sunday 27 September, 12:45 (UTC+1)
Italy
Italy have two intriguing fixtures coming up in September. First Japan come to Pordenone in their first meeting since a Women’s Rugby World Cup warm-up fixture last year. The Azzurre were 33-15 winners that day. Then there is South Africa, whose 29-14 Pool D win put Italy out of the tournament in England. Expect fireworks there. Coming into this campaign Italy will be led by their former assistant Plinio Sciamanna who has taken on the role of head coach after Fabio Roselli’s departure.
Key player
Sara Mannini – The versatile Harlequins-bound back has already become an important figure for her country aged 21. Comfortable at fly-half or in midfield, Sara Mannini possesses a well-rounded skillset and is able to effortlessly make her teammates flourish.
September fixtures
- Italy vs Japan, Saturday 19 September, 13:30 (UTC+2)
- Italy vs South Africa, Saturday 26 September, 13:30 (UTC+2)
Japan
Toshizumi Kitagawa has been appointed Japan’s new head coach after he led the team in an interim capacity earlier in 2026. That spell yielded an eighth Asia Rugby Women’s Championship in Kazakhstan. The Sakura 15s begin September against an Italy team they have only beaten once [25-24 in September 2023]. They will then play an Ireland team they have had better luck against in Galway. In eight meetings, Japan have beaten Ireland twice, the most recent of those successes coming in 2022 in Tokyo.
Key player
Moe Tsukui – A presence in the Sakura 15s for a decade now, Moe Tsukui’s reliability will be much-needed by Japan’s new head coach Toshizumi Kitagawa. The 26-year-old has already represented her country at three Women’s Rugby World Cups and will bring a wealth of tactical nous to her team.
September fixtures
- Italy vs Japan, Saturday 19 September, 13:30 (UTC+2)
- Ireland vs Japan, Sunday 27 September, 12:45 (UTC+1)
New Zealand
It will only be the 14th time that the Black Ferns will have played France on Saturday 12 September in Lyon. So far, New Zealand have enjoyed more success with eight wins to France’s five. They will then play Scotland in Edinburgh before taking on England at Allianz Stadium. Since Whitney Hansen took charge of New Zealand, the team have only known victory. In the Pacific Four Series, the six-time world champions went unbeaten in Tests against the United States, Canada and Australia, before retaining the Laurie O’Reilly Cup in Auckland. Before coming to Europe, the Black Ferns beat the Springbok Women 52-20 at FNB Stadium as part of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
Key player
Maiakawanakaulani Roos – At 25, Maiakawanakaulani Roos has established herself as one of the leading lock forwards in the world. A force in the lineout and has started every Test for Whitney Hansen since the 39-year-old was installed as head coach at the end of 2025.
September fixtures
- France vs New Zealand, Saturday 12 September, 16:45 (UTC+2)
- Scotland vs New Zealand, Saturday 19 September, 17:10 (UTC+1)
- England vs New Zealand, Saturday 26 September, 15:00 (UTC+1)
Scotland
Scotland will host three fixtures against high quality opponents in September. Time on the turf at Hive Stadium against Canada, New Zealand and Australia will surely push the side, led by interim head coach Dave Butcher, to their limits. A look over the history books explains why. After four meetings with the Black Ferns, Scotland are yet to win once. The same goes for the Wallaroos. Against Canada they have only ever won once. In 1994. At this year’s Women’s Six Nations, Scotland placed fifth after losses to England, Italy, France and Ireland.
Key player
Helen Nelson – The fly-half was one of Scotland’s top performers in a disappointing fifth-place finish at the 2026 Women’s Six Nations campaign. Her influence was seen in far more than her playmaker role too as the 32-year-old captained her country in the final two matches of the Championship.
September fixtures
- Scotland vs Canada, Saturday 12 September, 16:10 (UTC+1)
- Scotland vs New Zealand, Saturday 19 September, 17:10 (UTC+1)
- Scotland vs Australia, Saturday 26 September, 16:10 (UTC+1)
South Africa
The Springbok Women have been busy already in 2026. They have retained the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Kenya, played two-match test series against the USA Women’s Eagles and Fiji, and said goodbye to home at FNB Stadium with a loss to the Black Ferns. The team, built on power and strength, were the surprise package at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 with their run to the quarter-finals. With Test matches against Wales and Italy coming up in Europe the side – who will be led by co-head coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September – will hope to cause more surprises.
Key player
Babalwa Latsha – Newly-named captain of the Springbok Women, Babalwa Latsha leads a South Africa team that aims to keep climbing the World Rugby rankings in the years to come. The tighthead prop is an astute scrummager and is also the emotional heartbeat of her team on the field.
September fixtures
- Wales vs South Africa, Friday 18 September, 19:15 (UTC+1)
- Italy vs South Africa, Saturday 26 September, 13:30 (UTC+2)
USA
There has been a newfound confidence to the USA Women’s Eagles since Jack Hanratty’s introduction as head coach. The team’s picked up their first win under new leadership against the Wallaroos at the 2026 Pacific Four Series and also drew a test series against South Africa. Playing Ireland and Wales will provide good examinations for the USA, who will be co-captained by Sale Sharks pair Georgie Perris-Redding and Erica Jarrell-Searcy.
Key player
Bella Vogel – While only aged 19, Bella Vogel has made a big impact for Jack Hanratty’s Eagles. Already the versatile playmaker has started a full Pacific Four Series and against the Springboks in South Africa. To prepare for the WXV Global Series, Vogel has continued gaining match minutes for the USA Women Under-20s and USA Falcons.
September fixtures
- Ireland vs USA, Sunday 20 September, 13:45 (UTC+1)
- Wales vs USA, Saturday 26 September, 15:00 (UTC+1)
Wales
Cardiff will host Wales for their back-to-back WXV Global Series encounters. Against South Africa and the USA Women’s Eagles, Sean Lynn’s team will begin the hunt for their first win in 14 months. On paper the most likely course to victory will be against South Africa, who they have beaten in six of their eight meetings to date. Wins against the Eagles have been harder to come by, even if the most recent of their six meetings did end in a 38-18 victory in Colwyn Bay. Wales’s WXV Global Series squad contains eight uncapped players, but still possessed the talents of Nel Metcalfe, Keira Bvan and Kate Williams.
Key player
Kelsey Jones – As Wales picked up a third Women’s Six Nations wooden spoon in a row, Kelsey Jones was one of the top performers for head coach Sean Lynn. A scorer of three tries at the Championship, the 29-year-old also completed a hugely impressive 58 tackles and carried the ball 27 times.
September fixtures
- Wales vs South Africa, Friday 18 September, 19:15 (UTC+1)
- Wales vs USA, Saturday 26 September, 15:00 (UTC+1)
Watch the WXV Global Series on RugbyPass TV where host broadcaster not confirmed