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This WXV Global Series Challenger 2026 heads into its final round this weekend – with Fiji and The Netherlands the fight for first place and a piece of silver.
So what permutations should we consider? Let’s take a quick look at how the competition stands and what fans of each team can expect.
Fijiana v Oranje – Sprint for the title
Ahead of the final weekend, only two teams have a chance to win the title, namely Fiji and the Netherlands. Fijiana sit well in first place with 10 points after successfully securing two wins with bonus points, while the Netherlands are second with nine and Spain in third place with seven points.
Fiji’s raw strength and stunning handling skills were crucial in helping them get out of a tough spot against Spain and complete a stunning comeback, and were more than enough to break Hong Kong China’s dominance.
But will it be enough to overcome a Dutch side who were simply perfect in their series opener? While the Netherlands won 70-0 Samoa in week one, their performance in last saturday’s game vs Brazil could be the plan for Fiji to find a way to victory.
This is the kind of game that fans will be eager to watch, especially when we see Alfreda Fisher, Adi Salote Nailolo and Varanisese Qoro take on Linda van der Velden, Kika Mulling and Inger Jongerius.
However, if there is a draw and Spain beat Brazil with a bonus point, where does that leave us? As Fijian beat Spain 38-32 in the first round of the WXV Global Series Challenger, they would win the title with that score, with Lionesses he has to fight for second place.
Even if the Netherlands draw with Fiji and earn a bonus point from four tries, the situation will remain unchanged. Fiji would win in a tiebreaker as they are 13th in the world, two places above the Netherlands at 15th.
So sit tight because we’re in for a treat as Saturday’s headliner will be covered in white and black or orange confetti.
What next? LionessesHong Kong China, Yara’s and Samoa?
As already explained, Spain can finish second if the Netherlands win or draw with Fiji, but they can also finish fifth if they lose to Brazil and if Hong Kong China managed to conquer Samoa.
This means Lionesses they can’t take their foot off the accelerator as they end their campaign with their worst result since joining WXV Global Series Challenger it would be devastating.
Hong Kong China currently sits in fourth place with six points, after pulling off a remarkable last-minute victory over the team Yara’s and they look their best. A win over Samoa would give them a shot at the bronze medal, depending on whether the Netherlands pick up any bonus points.
It would be their best race and a serious boost for 2027, two years ahead of the women’s Rugby World Cup 2029
Looking at Brazil, Guilherme Coghetto’s side fell short against Hong Kong China and the Netherlands, but indiscipline and nerves ultimately cost them the chance to achieve historic results.
However, if they manage to stun Spain and get a win, then they can dream of third place, which will also depend on how Hong Kong China and Samoa play out. However, if they concede a third defeat and Samoa take four points in their final match, Yara’s could fall to sixth, and final, in the WXV Global Series Challenger.
Finally, Samoa. Manusina’s highest possible target is fifth place, but they can only achieve that by securing their first win of the campaign, as they are yet to pick up a point in two matches.
| # | The team | Matches played | Wins | A tie | Losses | Points for | Points against | Bonus points | Difference in points | Try to win a bonus point | Loss of bonus points | Points |
| 1 | Fiji | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 92 | 58 | 2 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 2 | The Netherlands | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 15 | 1 | 72 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 3 | Spain | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 93 | 59 | 3 | 34 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 4 | Hong Kong China | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 55 | 78 | 2 | -23 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | Brazil | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 39 | 46 | 3 | -7 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 6 | Samoa | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 131 | 0 | -110 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
If the above wasn’t clear enough, here’s a cleaner version:
- Fiji needs only a draw to win the series. Depending on the results, their worst possible finish is still fourth.
- The Netherlands need a win to take the title.
- Spain can only finish second with a win against Brazil and if the Netherlands lose to Fiji. However, a draw against Brazil and a win for China in Hong Kong would knock them off the podium.
- Hong Kong China can also move up to second place, provided both Spain and the Netherlands lose their matches. They could also slip to fifth if Brazil secure their first win over Spain and lose to Samoa in the final.
- Like Yaras they can still dream of a bronze medal if they beat Spain and Samoa upset Hong Kong China. However, a third successive defeat, combined with a win for Samoa, would condemn them to last place – Samoa can go as low as fifth or finish sixth.
Final considerations
Kika Mulling, with five tries, Valentina Pérez, with four, and Tanya Dhar, with three, are in the running for the top try scorer at the 2026 WXV Global Series Challenger.
Fiji’s Varanisese Qoro leads the table with 30 points (two attempts and ten conversions), followed by Spain’s Amalia Argudo with 26 (two attempts, five conversions and two penalties) and Kika Mulling with 25 (five attempts).
