RWC 2025 Day by day – Monday, 1 September

1. South Africa ‘change historical past for girls’s rugby’

On a day brimful of emotion and record-setting excellence (see under) South Africa nearly stole the headlines on Sunday as they certified for the knockout levels of a Women’s Rugby World Cup for the very first time.

Check out what it meant to a staff ranked twelfth on the earth: 

2. Silva surges from favelas into Brazilian file books

Incredibly, Brazil’s Bianca Silva nearly upstaged the Springbok Women all on her personal.

Hailing from a favela exterior Sao Paulo and having discovered her life ardour via the non-profit programme Rugby Para Todos (rugby for all) Silva etched her title eternally into the historical past books with the beautiful rating under v France – her nation’s first ever at a Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Her coach hopes will probably be “a point of growth for rugby in Brazil” whereas her teammates appeared like they’ll by no means cease celebrating it… 

3. All hail Woodman-Wickliffe: the “female Jonah Lomu”

Here is the historic second Portia Woodman-Wickliffe turned New Zealand’s all-time best strive scorer, surpassing All Black Doug Howlett: 

Fifty tries in 30 take a look at matches, together with a file 22 in RWC matches, it’s no marvel her captain had this to say concerning the extraordinary winger: 

“I think a lot of people call P the female Jonah Lomu. She is the most influential women’s rugby player in the world,” Black Fern Ruahei Demant mentioned merely. 

As for Woodman-Wickliffe herself, it was modesty as standard: “I saw KV [Katelyn Vahaakolo] there and I was like, ‘so I’m going to score this one and get it out of the way’, so I don’t think about it for the rest of the game!”

4. Records proceed to tumble 

The second weekend of motion was stuffed with smiles, tries and exhausted statisticians. The ladies above had their moments within the solar, however there have been a complete lot extra too. 

In the very first match on Saturday, Canadian second-row Tyson Beukeboom turned her nation’s equal most-capped rugby participant of all-time. Given her, and her staff’s excellence thus far, she is more likely to make that title all her personal very quickly.

Elsewhere, it won’t have been the end result Italy’s Sofia Stefan wished towards South Africa, however 100 caps is a monumental feat whichever manner you take a look at it. A mark, prop Linda Djougang is hoping she’s going to encourage some younger Ireland gamers to hit someday.

“For me it’s even beyond a dream because I never really imagined that I would reach this milestone,” mentioned Djougang who received her 50^th cap towards Spain on Sunday. “I don’t think I have played with someone that gained 50 caps. For me to be able to be that role model for them, it’s amazing. I want them to hit the 100 if they can, and show that this dream is limitless, just go for it.”

5. Family affair for debut RWC strive scorer Perez

Spanish flier Claudia Perez has rugby operating via her veins. Not solely did her dad and mom meet via the game, and all her siblings play it, but additionally, she will not be the primary Perez to drag on the Las Leonas worldwide shirt. 

“It is a dream for rugby families such as ours. We’ve been living it with a lot of excitement from the start, since last week, and for us it is a dream come true,” mentioned mum Luisa (seen under), who represented Spain in her youth. 

Watching her daughter on Sunday rating her first ever RWC strive v Ireland, was past particular for the proud father or mother. 

“We lived it as if we were with her on the field,” a beaming Perez senior mentioned. 

Support that the strive scorer completely loves. “They’re my biggest fans and it’s really amazing to play a World Cup and also see all of them, we are a really big family,” Claudia mentioned. “So watching them with posters and my name on their clothes, it’s amazing.” 

6. ‘No colon, nonetheless rollin”

If you feel somewhat sluggish this Monday morning, allow us to encourage you with a clip from USA scrum-half Cassidy Bargell: