Lynne Cantwell, the IRFU’s head of women’s strategy, says the new WXV Global Series will feel like a “mini‑World Cup” on Irish soil. The competition replaces the previous WXV format and pits the top twelve nations – including England, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, Japan, South Africa and the United States – against Ireland during the autumn break. Ireland’s fixtures against the USA and Japan will be confirmed before the Six Nations deadline.

Cantwell stresses that five or six home tests each year will be historic for Irish women’s rugby, offering a revenue stream that could help the sport achieve financial independence from the men’s game. She points to ticket sales, broadcast rights and sponsorship as the pillars of growth, noting that other women’s leagues such as England’s Women’s Super League provide a blueprint for commercial success.

The series also serves as a preparation platform for the 2029 World Cup in Australia, with each nation slated to play nine to 16 tests annually. Cantwell, a former 86‑cap Irish centre, hopes the exposure will attract fans and investors, mirroring the RFU’s target of a return on investment by 2031‑33. The IRFU now faces the task of turning this “mini‑World Cup” into a sustainable commercial engine.