Six Nations Rugby is introducing the first of its kind U20 Six Nations Women’s Summer Series, which will debut this July, in Parma, Italy.
Starting on the 4, July 2024, and running until the 14, the inaugural development competition will feature all Six Nations teams, and include three competitive match days, designed to offer a new opportunity for international rugby experience.
The Women’s Summer Series is intended to offer players a vital new opportunity to graduate through the rugby development pathway, from the U18 level. For those players who may have missed the U18 entry point onto the rugby pathway, the Women’s Summer Series opens another route to international rugby.
📢 Six Nations Rugby is introducing the first of its kind U20 Six Nations Women’s Summer Series, which will debut this July, in Parma, Italy!
Read more: https://t.co/XVngyebD8R 👈#FutureIsGreen— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) May 8, 2024
Similar to the Six Nations U18 Festivals, each union will involve coaches and match officials from their respective nation, to ensure it is not only the players that are offered the opportunity to gain vital experience and develop alongside each other.
The format of the Women’s Summer Series will see three match days, on the 4, 9, and 14 July, with teams made up of predominately U20 players, but with each union able to select up to three U23 players per match day squad.
Commenting on the introduction of the new Six Nations Women’s Summer Series, Julie Paterson, Chief of Rugby at Six Nations Rugby, said:
“The development pathway is an essential part of the strategy and commitment of Six Nations Rugby, and the six unions and federations, to proactively support the creation and growth of opportunities in the women’s game."
"The ability for the players, coaches, and match officials to gain rugby experience and exposure to a structured international pathway are vitals elements of the mission to motivate the long term, sustainable development of the women’s game. Introducing the Women’s Summer Series delivers on this mission and commitment," she says.
"Over the last three years, the Women’s Under-18s Festivals have provided a competitive and successful development platform. We are now able to offer the next phase for players, coaches, and match officials to graduate to, and continue to gain experience.
Performances from England and France in the senior Women’s Six Nations have highlighted the benefit a successful development infrastructure, and thriving domestic club game, can accelerate the develop of players. The combination of the Under-18 Festivals and now the Women’s Summer Series, provides an opportunity for rugby experience to be gained for the benefit of all six unions and federations. With energy and enthusiasm, coupled with patience and support, the pathway will feed through to the elite women’s game.
Thanks needs to be given to the Italian Federation, who previously hosted a Men’s Summer Series, and will once again put on an incredible experience for everyone involved in the Women’s event this July. Credit needs to be shared across all six unions and federations for the continued collaboration to bring to life a new and ambitious development platform for the sport.”
🏆 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐒𝐢𝐱 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 🤩
🍿 Sit back and enjoy a look back at a 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝-𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 Championship to the sound of our official track, performed by @kellileighuk 🎶🏉#GuinnessW6N pic.twitter.com/O45bNxqX9z— Guinness Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) May 7, 2024
