Fans will have to wait two weeks to enjoy another round of the WXV Global Series, but this time without any sparks from the Challenger, as the curtain has already fallen on the competition.
Fiji took the title home, while the The Netherlands and Spain rounded out the podium in an enticing, action-packed contest that put Hong Kong China in the spotlight.
But before we put the lid on WXV Global Series Challenger box, let’s discover some of the most prominent statistics of an unforgettable tournament.
Attempts came from everywhere
After the dust had settled, 76 tries had been scored, an average of four per game, highlighting the attacking prowess of each team.
With 18 goals each, the Netherlands and Fiji finished joint first, followed by Spain, who managed 13, although Las Leonas played one less game.
Hong Kong China he claimed 12 five-pointers, with his strike making a thunderous impact scoring more than 80%, revealing one of the cornerstones of the local side.
Samoa, who had a slow start to the competition, managed to finish with some momentum, scoring a total of eight tries, five of which came in the final game against Hong Kong China.
As for Yaras, while their defense was undoubtedly one of their strongest points, they still managed to collect seven finishes, with Raquel Kochann potentially one of the best in the entire competition.
Before we wrap up on the subject of tries scored, we must mention the competition’s top scorers, starting with Kika Mulling and Tanya Dhar, who share the top spot with five tries each.
Spain’s Valentina Pérez has won four goals and Fiji’s Atelaite Buna Ralivanawa is fourth with three.
(almost) Dutch impenetrable blockade
The title may not have gone to the Netherlands, but their defensive effort deserves mention as Gareth Gilbert’s side conceded just 35 points in three games.
With Linda van der Velden, Inger Jongerius, Isa Prins and Gwen van der Schoot putting on a thunderous show of combat for all to witness, the Dutch were simply wild in the area to the point of cornering Fiji.
Unfortunately for them, fatigue set in at the worst possible time, allowing Fiji to regain the lead with two minutes remaining in the ‘final’ of the competition.
But for those who witnessed their brave, spectacular effort from the kick-off, that stout defense will never be forgotten, serving as the platform for their bid to secure a place in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029
Of particular note is Brazil, who finished with the second best defense in the competition, with just 46 points.
Most fans expected the Brazilians to go down easily against the Netherlands, but truth be told, they were just meters away from what could have been one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, and their defense provided that chance.
Crowded stands from the first day!
An average of 2,500 fans flocked to the stands at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground, with games in Hong Kong, China attracting the largest crowds.
Although the first leg of each round may have started slowly, you could hear the roar coming from the fans from midway through the first leg, a testament to how passionate the rugby community in Hong Kong China is.
The biggest sell-out matches were Hong Kong China v Brazil (2,900), Hong Kong China v Fiji (2,700) and Fiji v Netherlands (2,900), in a stadium with a maximum capacity of 5,000. In total, the WXV Global Series Challenger sold more than 8,000 tickets over three rounds.
After a successful hosting WXV Global Series Challenger 2026, Hong Kong China has raised the bar, and expectations are already building for an even bigger spectacle in the years to come.
Six short and long returns
Fans can hardly complain about the twists and turns delivered by the WXV Global Series Challenger, with around six of them playing out over the course of the competition.
Take, for example, the match between Spain and Fiji: the Fijian team initially took the lead, but soon lost control of the game, thanks to the outstanding performances of Valentina Pérez and Amalia Argudo. However, with 15 minutes remaining, the Pacific Islanders found their rhythm and staged a sensational comeback, turning a 32-19 deficit into a 38-32 victory.
Brazil and Hong Kong China produced another thriller, with the hosts staging a remarkable comeback in the final five minutes as legends Lee Ka Shun and Fion Got pushed their team over the line (quite literally) to seal a dramatic victory.
The Yaras were also involved in another dramatic comeback in their clash with the Netherlands. The South Americans were the first team to take the lead after a thrilling try by Raquel Kochhann, but the Dutch gave it their all and came back brilliantly to record a 17-15 victory.
Unfortunately for Orange women, found themselves on the wrong side of a dramatic comeback in their clash with Fiji.
After falling behind 12-0 early, the Netherlands fought back to take the lead with 20 minutes remaining, only for Fiji to equalize before stealing both the match and the title with just 60 seconds remaining.
In the end, four of the eight games were painted in the comeback color, proving that there was plenty of mystery and drama in the WXV Global Series Challenger.
