The shape of things to come

Quick quiz question. What and when was the last women’s rugby test match?

Answer –Guatemala v El Salvador, on 8thMarch.

But now – after the longest break since 1983 – women’s test rugby is about to return with at least 13 test matches planned in Europe over seven weekends between 25thOctober and 20thDecember, plus at least one more in New Zealand.

Six Nations

Six Women’s Six Nations games remain to be played, though in practice only three of them will determine the winner of the Championship. France currently lie eight points behind England, but have a game in hand.

If France can beat Scotland on the 25thOctober (KO 14:05 GMT) and then Ireland a week later on 1stNovember (KO 13:30 GMT) they will at least tie with England at the top and given bonus points would go to the top of the table – for at least a few hours.

This should set up an interesting climax to the Championship as England will kick-off at 17:00 in Parma, likely knowing that they will need at least a draw to win the title.

Ireland also play Italy on the 25th, and Wales play Scotland on the 1st– possibly with the fate of the Wooden Spoon in the balance.

We will have to wait over a month before the final game of the Championship is played between Italy and Scotland – an otherwise “dead rubber” that is now arguably more important than any other game in the 2020 Six Nations. For the reason why that should be, read on.

European Championship

Running in parallel to the final two weekends of the Six Nations will be the final two games of the European Championship. Both involve Spain and will be played in Spain.

In the first one, on 24thNovember, Spain will play Russia in Elche. As Russia beat the Netherlands back in March a win here would give the Russians their first European XVs title – and a place in European World Cup qualifiers.

Should Spain beat Russia the title will be decided a week later when they meet the Netherlands, also in Elche.

Le Crunch: England v France

Next up, England will meet France in two test matches on 14thand 21stNovember, first in France and then in England, at Twickenham.

Oceania World Cup Eliminator

Also scheduled for November, but on a date to be confirmed, Samoa will meet Tonga in New Zealand for a place in the World Cup repechage tournament. [Update:The game will now take place on 14th November in Auckland, with both teams restricted to selecting only New Zealand-based players].

European World Cup qualifiers

The Six Nations match between Italy and Scotland on 6thDecember (mentioned above) will also now be the first match in a three week tournament to decide the fourth European team to qualify for the World Cup (joining England, Wales and France), and which team will have to try again in the World Repechage.

On the same day the winner of the European Championship will host Ireland.

On 13thDecember the second round will see Scotland hosting Ireland, and the European champions travelling to Italy.

Then on 20thDecember Ireland will play Italy and the European champions will play Scotland.

And that should round off 2020.

Still to come in 2021…

February – March

* Six Nations 2021*World Cup eliminator:Kenya vs Colombia, for a place in the repechage*Asian Championship:Hong Kong v Japan v Kazakhstan for one place at the World Cup, and one place in the repechage

April

World Cup Repechage: Venue and dates to be confirmed

Plus... possibly

* The largestEuropean Trophytournament for a decade – rumoured participants include Belgium, Czechia, Finland, Germany, Switzerland and perhaps Sweden.* The second (and largest ever)Africa Cup* The test debut of Argentina – and therefore potentially aSouth American Championship, also including Brazil and Colombia.

And then...

From 17thSeptember2021theWorld Cupin New Zealand.