Latest news with #WXV3
Straits Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
England to play Spain and France in World Cup warm-up matches
World Cup hosts England will play two warm-up matches against Spain and France in August before the tournament begins, the governing Rugby Football Union (RFU) said on Wednesday. The Six Nations champions and two-times World Cup winners will host Spain in Leicester on August 2 and then travel to take on France in Mont-de-Marsan a week later. Spain will appear at their first World Cup since 2017 after winning the WXV 3 tournament last year, while France will be aiming to reach their first final of the tournament having finished third on seven occasions. England last won the World Cup in 2014 and have reached the final in all-but-one of the previous nine editions. The Red Roses will go in as strong favourites having won all 25 matches since losing the last final to New Zealand in 2022. France pushed England hard in the recent Six Nations, with England clinching the Grand Slam on the final day in a thrilling 43-42 win over the French at Twickenham to claim championship victory for the seventh successive time. The World Cup begins on August 22 with England playing the United States in Sunderland. Samoa and Australia are with them in Pool A. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-England to play Spain and France in World Cup warm-up matches
(Reuters) -World Cup hosts England will play two warm-up matches against Spain and France in August before the tournament begins, the governing Rugby Football Union (RFU) said on Wednesday. The Six Nations champions and two-times World Cup winners will host Spain in Leicester on August 2 and then travel to take on France in Mont-de-Marsan a week later. Spain will appear at their first World Cup since 2017 after winning the WXV 3 tournament last year, while France will be aiming to reach their first final of the tournament having finished third on seven occasions. England last won the World Cup in 2014 and have reached the final in all-but-one of the previous nine editions. The Red Roses will go in as strong favourites having won all 25 matches since losing the last final to New Zealand in 2022. France pushed England hard in the recent Six Nations, with England clinching the Grand Slam on the final day in a thrilling 43-42 win over the French at Twickenham to claim championship victory for the seventh successive time. The World Cup begins on August 22 with England playing the United States in Sunderland. Samoa and Australia are with them in Pool A. (Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
South China Morning Post
05-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong tap potential of fresh faces for Asia Rugby Women's Championship
Hong Kong could hand debuts to as many as five players in the Asia Rugby Women's Championship this month, something head coach Lewis Wilson said highlighted the 'really exciting' potential for the game in the city. Advertisement With several senior squad members, including Natasha Olson-Thorne, either injured or resting after an intense sevens season, Wilson said some fringe players had made 'absolutely amazing progress' over the past several months. The city's women take on Kazakhstan and hosts Japan in the space of five days in this year's ARC, hoping to kick-start their next World Cup qualifying cycle after the disappointment of the WXV3 tournament in Dubai last year. Other experienced players missing the trip to Fukuoka include the Rivers sisters, Georgia and Gabriella, and Sabay Lynam. Hong Kong coach Lewis Wilson has hailed the progress of the squad's fringe players. Photo: Elson Li The likes of Naomi Peeters and Isobel Littlehailes have been brought in as replacements, while Pun Wai-yan will captain a 28-strong squad, which will be cut down from the 35 that Lewis has had training in preparation. Advertisement 'There are five potentials in there, which is awesome,' Wilson said. 'And there's probably another 10 or so in behind, not too far away either, which is really exciting.'
