WXV 2024 preview
Canada, captained by Tyson Beukeboom, will face France, Ireland, and England, for the WXV title.
The eyes of the rugby world turn to the Pacific coast, as British Columbia (or, more specifically, Metro Vancouver,) hosts the top division of women’s international rugby - the WXV.
Canada was selected as hosts over England, likely due to the latter preparing to host the Women’s Rugby World Cup next year, and with the country having the nickname “the Greta White North,” it was decided to host the tournament in the province with the most temperate climate for Autumn.
Canada enter this tournament riding the high of winning the Pacific Four Series by beating the Black Ferns for the first time in their history, and securing the Silver medal in rugby sevens at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Interestingly, Canada is the only WXV 1 nation to have not played a warm-up fixture prior to the tournament. This could be attributed to Olympic athletes getting required rest before the tournament, due to the XVs and 7s having a lot of crossover playes, such as Olivia Apps and Fancy Bermudez. However, the lack of playing time may hurt them. We shall see…
Here are the 3 teams they will be facing, as well as our chances on how well the women will fare…
Canada vs France - September 29 - BC Place - KO at 18:45 ET
France finished 2nd in the SIx Nations this year, losing to champions England, putting up double-point differences in their mathces against their European opposition. France looked to make amends to their Six Nations record with another match against England in the warm-up games, but fell once more.
France infamously nilled Canada in the 2021 RWC bronze medal match, but Canada avenged this defeat with a 29-20 victory in the WXV last year. Historically, France edge out Canada in fixtures, leading 9-8. A win against France is very much on the cards, and with home advantage, could set that record to 9-9.
Canada vs Ireland - October 5 - Willoughby Stadium - KO at 18:45 ET
Ireland have been on the ascension this year. Considering how 2023 ended for them, they placed last in the Six Nations, only winning the Wooden Spoon, and were placed in WXV 3. Considering their opposition, they were clear favourites, with only Spain proving to be any sort of competition, whom they beat 15-13. In 2024, they finished 3rd in the Six Nations, not only securing their place in WXV 1, but also qualifying them for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Historically, Canada and Ireland have only played each other 3 times - a 57-0 win to Canada at the 2022 RWC, an 8-15 loss to Ireland in Galway in 2006, and a 48-7 win to Canada in 2016. This encounter will be 2 years shy of the gap between their 2nd and 3rd encounter, and looks set to go the way of their 1st and 3rd meeting. That said, Ireland should not be underestimated, as recent scalps against Australia would prove.
Canada vs England - October 12 - BC Place - KO at 22:00 ET
Since their 2021/2 RWC Final loss to New Zealand, England have been on the warpath. They have not lost a game in 17 encounters, picking up 2 Six Nations Grand Slams, the WXV Championship in 2023, and recently beat both France and New Zealand warm-up games. If England had won that Final, their current run would be 48! As the pioneers of women’s professional rugby, they will be looking to defend their crown in BC.
Canada have not beaten England since 2016. Since then, they have struggled to even put 20 points against the Red Roses, only managing to do so in a warm-up game last year…before losing 50-24. The odds are against the Canadians for this one. That said, Canada also hadn’t beaten the Black Ferns until this year. Maybe another upset is on the cards?
We shall see…