The new dates for the postponed Women’s World Cup are now set. Originally scheduled to run from September 18 to October 16 of this year, World Rugby has confirmed that the tournament will begin on Saturday, October 8, 2022, with the final now booked for Saturday, November 12.
While the later start date is significant, so too are the spaces between games. The initial plan had the three pool matches to be played within 10 days of each other. Games will now only be played on Saturdays and Sundays allowing for reasonable rest between matches.
New Zealand remain hosts with all matches split between three venues – Eden Park and Waitakere Stadium in Auckland, and Okara Park in Whangārei. The Americas are represented by Canada and the USA, with Colombia still alive in the qualification process.
Curiously the branding for the tournament will read Rugby World Cup 2021, Playing in 2022. It follows the same convention that the Tokyo Olympics have used in retaining the 2020 branding despite the event now taking place in 2021.