WXV: How does new tournament work, which teams are playing and when are matches?

Rugby’s new global tournament – the women’s WXV competition – starts on Friday with Scotland and Ireland both in action.

The three-tier competition, which will be staged in South Africa, Dubai and New Zealand over three weeks, aims to offer consistent annual fixtures for sides outside of World Cup years.

“WXV will be a truly global tournament,” said Sally Horrox, World Rugby’s chief of women’s rugby.

“It gives players more competition and experience as there are not enough competition opportunities globally for our amazing women to play.”

Each WXV tier contains six countries who have qualified via continental tournaments and play-offs. The six countries in each tier are split into two pools.

Participating teams in WXV 1 include the three top-ranked sides from the Women’s Six Nations – this year, that’s England, France and Wales – plus the top three from a four-nation cross-regional tournament – that’s Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

WXV 2 contains two teams from Europe – Italy and Scotland this year – and the remaining nation from the cross-regional competition, the United States, as well as the champions of Oceania, Asia and Africa.

WXV 3 includes the lowest-ranked team from the Six Nations and another European side, the winner of a South American play-off and the runners-up of regional tournaments in Oceania, Asia and Africa.

With each tier split into two pools, each team play the three sides in the other pool. Final placings are determined by a points table.

Four points will be awarded for a win and two for a draw, with the potential to pick up bonus points for scoring four tries or losing by seven points or fewer.

There will be no promotion or relegation during the first year of WXV 1. However, in WXV 2, the sixth-placed regional position will be relegated to WXV 3.

The winner of WXV 3 will be promoted to WXV 2, with the fate of the bottom team in the third tier decided by a play-off with the next best side outside of the competition according to World Rugby’s rankings.

One of the main goals for the annual competition is to help build towards the expanded 16-team Rugby World Cup in 2025, which will be held in England.

It will offer a chance of qualification for the tournament, with at least five of the top-ranked, non-qualified teams at the end of WXV 2024 securing a place at the World Cup.

“We are going to New Zealand, South Africa and Dubai, and it’s an opportunity for 18 of the best teams in the world that qualify through a regional pathway,” Horrox said.

In WXV 1, England, Wales and France, in one pool, will face Australia, Canada and New Zealand, with the games…