Dubai Confirmed As WXV 3 2023 Host

World Rugby has confirmed that Dubai, UAE will host the WXV 3 2023 tournament at the Sevens Stadium across the weekends of 14, 21 and 28 October. It was widely speculated Dubai would be the host venue for the tournament which will include six national women’s teams.

Updated July 11 2023

The WXV 3 tournament will be supported by UAE Rugby Federation and the WXV events are partnered by Mastercard, Capgemini and Gallagher, with World Rugby also injecting multi-million-pound investment funding over an initial two-year period in the sprint to an expanded 16-team Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.

Mohamed Sultan AlZaabi, Secretary General, UAE Rugby Federation, said of hosting: “The United Arab Emirates Rugby Federation is delighted to host the WXV 3 event. As a host of the iconic Emirates Dubai 7s, we look forward to becoming a hub for more world-level rugby events.

This event also allows us to support the growth of women’s rugby which has seen a sharp increase and we hope it can also help inspire the next generation of players.”

Who Will Play WXV 3 2023?

Of the six teams participating in Dubai for WXV 3, Fiji, Ireland, Kazakhstan and Kenya have already confirmed their places, but two spots remain to be filled.

Kazakhstan represent Asia after finishing second in the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship, beating Hong Kong, China but losing to Japan – the Sakura XV will play in WXV 2 in South Africa.

The winner of the two-leg play-off between Colombia and Brazil in Medellin, Colombia on 5 and 9 July and the loser of the play-off between Italy and Spain on 22 July in Piacenza, Italy will be the final teams added,

• Fiji
• Ireland
• Kazakhstan
• Kenya
• Colombia
• Winner of Italy and Spain*

World Rugby Chief of Women’s Rugby, Sally Horrox said: “Competition is fierce as teams compete to secure their place. We look forward to seeing who joins Fiji, Ireland, Kenya and Kazakhstan in WXV 3.”

Image Credit: World Rugby

WXV 1

WXV 1 will be played in three cities across New Zealand in Wellington (Sky Stadium), Dunedin (Forsyth Barr Stadium) and Auckland (Go Media Stadium, Mt Smart) from 20 October to 4 November 2023.

England, France and Wales will play in WXV 1 and be joined by the top three teams from this year’s World Rugby Pacific Four Series, which features Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA.

WXV 2

Japan, Samoa, Scotland and South Africa are confirmed for WXV 2 with the remaining two to be determined by the lowest-placed team in the Pacific Four Series and the winner of the Italy versus Spain play-off.

An announcement regarding the venue for WXV 2 in Cape Town will be made soon.

Rugby Tournament News 2023

• World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 – Complete Guide.
• Japan World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 Squad.
• Hong Kong China Select World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 Squad.
• Capgemini Women in Rugby Leadership Programme 2023.