Womens cup

REUTERS: The number of teams participating in the women's Rugby World Cup will be increased from 12 to 16 from the 2025 edition, the sport's governing body announced on Monday. The decision was taken by the Rugby World Cup Board earlier this year and World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said it was a "milestone moment" for the women's game. "In 2017 we set out an ambitious eight-year plan to accelerate the development of women in rugby ... and an ambition to improve and expand the number of teams competing in pinnacle events," Beaumont said in a statement. "We have seen in recent years that more teams are making a statement at international level and unions are continuing to develop their women’s high-performance programmes. "Expansion of the Rugby World Cup opens additional... playing pathway opportunities for unions at the highest level of the game and creates added incentive for unions worldwide to continue to invest and grow in their women's programmes." The 2021 … [Read more...] about Rugby: Women’s World Cup to be expanded to 16 teams from 2025

LONDON: The World Rugby Council on Tuesday approved recommendations by its World Cup Board for a more transparent process of selecting hosts for future men's and women's editions of the tournament, including an open electronic vote with results published. The sport's global body said that after an interim meeting, it was decided that awarding hosting rights for the women's 2025 and 2029 editions and men's 2027 and 2031 editions would be through a vote following a risk-based technical evaluation. Previously, World Rugby could make its recommendations to the council members before hosting rights are awarded. "These decisions reflect best-practice in major sports event host selection and will ensure Rugby World Cup is accessible and attractive to a wide range of potential hosts," World Rugby said in a statement. World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said that the new process was part of plans to bring about positive changes in his second term as head of the body. "I have strived … [Read more...] about World Cup hosts to be decided by open vote as World Rugby approves changes

Cameron Bock , a University of Michigan senior, was the surprise winner of the Winter Cup, the first significant U.S. gymnastics meet of the Olympic year. Bock tallied 84.15 points, prevailing by nine tenths over Riley Loos , a Stanford sophomore. “I view this competition as the first step in the Olympic process,” Bock said on NBCSN. “It’s not the direct qualification process, but I view it as a good stepping stone to get on that team.” Yul Moldauer , the 2017 U.S. all-around champion and most decorated man in the field, finished third after a major mistake off a high bar handstand attempt. Full results are here . Bock, 22, placed seventh in the all-around at the 2018 U.S. Championships. He didn’t compete at the 2019 Nationals after earning two medals at the Pan American Games days earlier. Bock, fourth in the 2019 NCAA Championships all-around, could become the first man to make an Olympic team coming off an NCAA season since Sam Mikulak , a fellow California … [Read more...] about Cameron Bock is surprise Winter Cup gymnastics winner

WELLINGTON: England captain Sarah Hunter had a funny feeling before the draw for next year's women's Rugby World Cup that her top-ranked side would be paired with France, a team they meet in an international in London on Saturday. Hunter's side, second seeds in the draw, were grouped with France in Pool C, while hosts New Zealand will meet trans-Tasman rivals Australia in Pool A and third-ranked Canada face the United States in Pool B. "I just had this gut feeling we were going to be drawn against France, I don't know what it was about it," Hunter said in a statement on Friday. "When we played them in the semi-final of the last World Cup it was probably one of the most physically demanding games that I've played in," she added of the 20-3 win in Belfast in 2017. "If we want to win the World Cup we're going to have to play the best teams along the way so if they're in our pool that is what we focus on to get out of our pool." The cut-throat nature of the 12-team tournament … [Read more...] about England’s Hunter expected to get France in World Cup draw

WELLINGTON: Top-ranked England and France have been drawn in the same pool for next year's women's Rugby World Cup, while hosts New Zealand were drawn with trans-Tasman neighbours Australia at a ceremony in Auckland on Friday. Third-ranked Canada and inaugural champions the United States will be in Pool B for the 12-team tournament which will be held in the southern hemisphere for the first time. "It is interesting how the pools have come out," New Zealand captain Eloise Blackwell said. "We have an Australasian pool, North American and European. "Every time we come up against Australia it is a massive battle. "But we're not going to be defending the title, we're out there to win it." Two-times winners England and fourth-ranked France will be joined by Fiji and South Africa in Pool C. Ninth-ranked Wales and the team that wins the final qualifying tournament will join the Black Ferns and Wallaroos in Pool A. The North American sides will be joined by qualifiers from … [Read more...] about England, France drawn in same pool for women’s World Cup