England interim head coach Louis Deacon has said losing last year’s World Cup final was “devastating”, but the squad also have some “great memories”. The Red Roses were beaten 34-31 by hosts New Zealand in a thrilling final at Eden Park in November 2022. England return to New Zealand next month for the inaugural WXV1 tournament. Deacon said the “players are looking forward to going back” to the scene of that defeat. WXV is a new international women’s rugby tournament featuring 18 teams from around the world split across three pools, to provide more competitive games between World Cups.
Promotion and relegation has been introduced between levels two and three, to give smaller nations more chance of progression. England are in WXV1, the top tier, along with New Zealand, France, Canada, Australia and Wales. All the games will be played in New Zealand.
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Deacon’s side face Australia in Wellington on 20 October, Canada in Dunedin a week later, then finish with a repeat of the World Cup final by playing New Zealand in Auckland on 4 November.
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