The 2024 WXV global tournament is in the record books, with England, Australia and Spain crowned champions of their respective tiered divisions. The Red Roses are now the only team in the world to have won back-to-back WXV crowns, following on from their inaugural title triumph last year in New Zealand.
Below we have compiled a full re-cap of the final weekend of this year’s WXV, beginning with The victories in Vancouver, as the Red Roses took home the trophy.
WXV1
USA 14-26 IRELAND
USA prop Hope Rogers celebrated her 50th cap in style, as she scored the opening try of the match midway through the first half. McKenzie Hawkins converted but Ireland levelled within 10 minutes through flanker Erin King, going over after a quick tap and Nicole Fowley adding the extras. USA restored their lead on the stroke of half-time as Rogers grounded her second from close range. Hawkins added the conversion to send the Women’s Eagles into half-time 14-7 in front.
Ireland were awarded a penalty try in the 64th minute, Tahlia Brody being shown a yellow card in the process, to level the scores once again. USA then went down to 13 players with just under 10 minutes to go. Cliodhna Moloney’s try followed, as Ireland were in front for the first time. Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe added the fourth Irish try, to make sure of victory and condemn USA to sixth place. Shortly after, Rachel Johnson was sent to the sin bin and the USA ended the match with 13 players.
NEW ZEALAND 39-14 FRANCE
The Black Ferns started the match winless in WXV, and with only one victory in six years against France. However, it took just eight minutes for the New Zealand lead, as Ayesha Leti-I’iga powered her way over the whitewash. The Black Ferns New Zealand doubled their advantage as Katelyn Vaha’akolo scored the first of her three tries. France cut their deficit to just three points in the 18th minute, through Emeline Gros’ try.
Alana Bremner went over for the third New Zealand try midway through the first half, but France co-captain Manaé Feleu went over, and Queyroi added the extras to make the score 15-14. Vahaakolo’s brilliant second try on the stroke of half-time gave the Black Ferns breathing space and then two tries within 10 minutes of the restart took the game away from Les Bleues. Vahaakolo completed her hat-trick in the 44th minute, before Kaipo Olsen-Baker went over five minutes later.
Hannah King found her range from the kicking tee to convert both and extend the Black Ferns’ lead to 20 points. With France speedster Séraphine Okemba in the sin bin, Tanya Kalounivale added a seventh try in the 57th minute.
CANADA 12-21 ENGLAND
England fell behind early on, as Justine Pelletier found a way over the line following some phase play from her forwards. The Red Roses took the lead less than five minutes later. Number eight Alex Matthews punched her way forward, and as the ball was recycled, tight-head prop Maud Muir burrowed over the line and twisted to score. Helena Rowland converted and that is the way the score remained at half-time.
The defending champions were reduced to 14 players just four minutes into the second half, as Ellie Kildunne was shown a yellow card. Canada eventually took advantage in the 51st minute as a fine team move created the space for Tessier to slide over, and the captain converted her own try. England wing Bo Westcombe-Evans was then sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on.
It was the Red Roses who scored next, as Sarah Bern battled over from close range, before Rowland added the conversion to edge her side back in front. Player of the Match Zoe Aldcroft went over in the final play, and Rowland added her third conversion to deny the hosts a losing bonus point.
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