2026 WXV
 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | September — October 2026 |
| Teams | 18 (12 in Global Series, 6 in Emerging Nations) |
| Website | wxvrugby.com |
← 2024 2028 → | |
The 2026 WXV will be the third edition of WXV, a Women's international rugby union group tournament for national teams organised by World Rugby.
It is the first edition of the revamped format, which will move the top 12 nations to a home-and-away touring model, while the teams ranked 13-18 will play at a central destination, funded by World Rugby.[1]
The September fixtures will be centred predominantly in Europe and the October tests will feature tours to Africa, the Americas, Africa, Oceania, and Pacific. During this test window teams will play between four and six fixtures annually.
These teams were chosen by their World Rugby ranking at the end of WXV 2024, with the inclusion of Brazil to ensure that all six of World Rugby's regions are represented:
| Team | Competition | Region | World Rugby Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
 England
|
Six Nations Championship | Europe | |
.svg.png){kind=small} Canada
|
Pacific Four Series | North America | |
 New Zealand
|
Pacific Four Series | Oceania | |
 France
|
Six Nations Championship | Europe | |
 Ireland
|
Six Nations Championship | Europe | |
 Scotland
|
Six Nations Championship | Europe | |
.svg.png){kind=small} Australia
|
Pacific Four Series | Oceania | |
 United States
|
Pacific Four Series | North America | |
 Italy
|
Six Nations Championship | Europe | |
 South Africa
|
Rugby Africa Women's Cup | Africa | |
 Japan
|
Asia Rugby Women's Championship | Asia | |
 Wales
|
Six Nations Championship | Europe |
| Team | Competition | Region | World Rugby Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
 Fiji
|
Oceania Rugby Women's Championship | Oceania | |
 Spain
|
Rugby Europe Women's Championship | Europe | |
 Samoa
|
Oceania Rugby Women's Championship | Oceania | |
 Hong Kong
|
Asia Rugby Women's Championship | Asia | |
 Netherlands
|
Rugby Europe Women's Championship | Europe | |
 Brazil
|
South America does not have a competition structure for their women's XVs tournaments | South America |
Format
The WXV Global Series is fully aligned with the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup qualification pathway, offering clear progression opportunities for teams across both levels and all six of World Rugby's regions.
The Global Series will not use a formal table ranking, and instead act as a structure in which the tests can take place. It is unclear whether the Emerging Nations competition will feature such a table.
WXV Global Series
| |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host | Various |
| Dates | September — October 2026 |
| Teams | Australia Canada England France Ireland Italy Japan New Zealand Scotland South Africa United States Wales |
← 2024 2028 → | |
The 2026 WXV Global Series will feature home-and-away touring models, which are to be arranged between the member unions. One of these fixtures includes a South Africa vs New Zealand double header at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg as part of the Greatest Rivalry Tour.[2][3][4][5]
The three match tour of New Zealand for France was confirmed in December.[6] Australia confirmed a two match tour for Scotland, as well as their intention to play 3 tests during the September window.[7]
| Home team | Away team | Number of Tests | Test Window | ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa |
United States |
2 | July | [8][9] |
| South Africa |
New Zealand |
1 | September | [4][3] |
| France |
Canada |
1 | September | |
| Scotland |
Canada |
1 | September | |
| England |
Canada |
1 | September | |
| Australia |
Scotland |
2 | October | |
| New Zealand |
France |
3 | October | |
| Canada |
England |
2 | October |
The full fixture list is expected by the conclusion of the 2026 Women's Six Nations Championship and 2026 Pacific Four Series in May.
WXV Emerging Nations
| |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | September — October 2026 |
| Teams | Brazil Fiji Hong Kong Netherlands Samoa Spain |
← 2024 2028 → | |
The 2026 WXV Emerging Nations will take place at a central location to be announced by World Rugby.
References
- ^ "World Rugby and 18 national unions launch landmark WXV Global Series". World Rugby. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ Westhuyzen, Jacques van der (5 December 2025). "Springbok women's team to take on Black Ferns during 'Greatest Rivalry' series". The Citizen. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ a b "Women add depth to Rugby's Greatest Rivalry". SA Rugby. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ a b "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry just got greater". All Blacks. 5 December 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ "Black Ferns and Springbok Women join 2026 Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour". Rugby Pass. 4 December 2025.
- ^ Reive, Christopher. "'We've got plenty to prove': Black Ferns welcome familiar foes as home tests confirmed". NZ Herald.
- ^ "Wallaroos set for historic 2026 Test season". Wallaroos. 10 December 2025.
- ^ "Springbok Women to host USA in historic Test series". SA Rugby. 21 January 2026.
- ^ Burke, Jenni (21 January 2026). "Two-Test Tour in South Africa confirmed for Women's Eagles". USA Rugby. Retrieved 24 January 2026.