'More meaningful competition': WXV Global Series calendar takes shape
NEWS: The Springbok Women are set to host some of the top rugby teams over the next two years as World Rugby confirmed the WXV Global calendar.
Building on the momentum of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, World Rugby has announced that Hong Kong will host the WXV Global Series Challenger central competition, the second division of the WXV Global Series competition from September 3 – 26, 2026.
Teams ranked 13 -17 – Fiji, Hong Kong China, the Netherlands, Samoa, Spain and Brazil who qualified through competing at RWC 2025 will go head-to-head in a centrally-hosted tournament at the Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong. The competition will consist of three triple header matchdays on September 13, 19 and 26 .
Funded by World Rugby, the WXV Global Series Challenger will enable unions to compete in more consistent, high-quality international competition. Rankings to determine positions in the Series were set at the conclusion of WXV 2024 and will remain fixed through the 2026-28 cycle, as agreed with participating unions. Cross-over fixtures will take place in 2027 around the British and Irish Lions Women’s tour.
The top 12 ranked teams – Australia, Canada, England, France, Italy, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, USA and Wales – will compete in a home-and-away, cross-regional touring model.
These fixtures will take place within an eight-week global window from the second week of September to the last week of October, allowing unions to host matches in their home markets, retain commercial rights, and create compelling cross-regional matchups. This structure also strengthens fan engagement and supports reinvestment into national programmes and player pathways.
“Confirming the WXV Global Series calendar, with more than 100 international fixtures for the world’s top 18 unions across 2026-28, is a huge step forward for women’s rugby,” said Sally Horrox, World Rugby’s Chief of Women’s Rugby.
“With Hong Kong China set to host the Challenger in September, we are providing unions with the opportunity to play more consistent, high-quality competition, while the top 12 teams compete in an exciting home-and-away series.
“This new hybrid model, developed in partnership with the participating unions, delivers more meaningful competition, strengthens player pathways, and gives fans around the world even more opportunities to engage with women’s rugby.”
