News in brief from around the world

IRELAND

In Ireland’s Interprovincial Championship, Munster and Leinster set up a grand finale with both sides winning at the weekend.

The two heavyweights of the Irish provincial scene will play each other for the title next weekend.

Munster were too good for Ulster at Thomond Park, winning 43-0 in a convincing victory.  Ireland captain Niamh Briggs opened the scoring with a try and there were further scores from Laura O’Mahony, Leah Lyons, Niamh Kavanagh, Heather O'Brien and Chloe Pearse.

It was a tighter affair in Dublin with Leinster winning 15-5 over Connacht.

Connacht started well and scored first through full-back Mairead Coyne but Leinster grew into the game with Jennie Finlay crashing over to make it 5-5 at halftime. Sophie Spence was over the line in the second half before Aine Donnelly pushed the lead further out. The poor weather made it difficult for both sides and Leinster hung on to take out the win.

NEW ZEALAND

The women’s Provincial Championship (WPC) continued at the weekend with a massive win for Auckland over an ailing Canterbury side the result to catch the eye.

This year’s competition features a new format with Semi-Finals introduced for the first time since 2009.Auckland - bidding for an an eighth successive title piled further woe on Canterbury, who look to be struggling this season, with a massive 70-8 win.

The home team ran in 12 tries to one to take control of the top of the table with co-leader Counties Manukau having a bye weekend. Kendra Cocksedge, winning her 50th cap for her province, scored Canterbury’s only points while tries rained in for Auckland from Shannon Willoughby, Aldora Itunu, Aimee Lenssen, Fiao'o Faamausili, Lydia Crossman, Linda Itunu, Natahlia Debnorah-Moors (2) and Mele Hufanga (4) tries whi;e Kiritapu Demant and Dayna Harris added further scores through the boot.

Otago got their first win with a 32-14 victory over Hawke's Bay with tries from Hollie Fraser, who had a hatrick, Rian Sanerive  and Georgina McCullough

Elsewhere Waikato proved too strong for Bay of Plenty in their game at the Tauranga Domain with the visitors taking a 43-0 win. Stacey Waaka, Les Ketu, Shakira Baker, Grace Houpapa-Barrett all grabbed tries.

Wellington Pride nilled Manaqatu with a 34-0 win with Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Georgia Daals, Noeleen Nonu, Agnes Dean and Caroline Sio crossing the line.

ICELAND

Iceland fielded its first all women's team at the weekend- against their men's team.

In practice, and given both the opposition and their state of development, the game was touch sevens. However their target is to take part in a women's tournament in Denmark next year. With several players going abroad for the winter this was the climax of the Icelandic women's 2015 season - but training for those who remain will continue.

GERMANY/SWITZERLAND

An unofficial German XV side beat Switzerland 47-13. The G15-Frauenrugby is an invitational team featuring many of Germany’s top players but with a heavy focus on sevens in the country, it is not connected to the union.

More details of this game to follow.

AUSTRALIA

Sharni Williams took the gong recently for the for Qantas Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in Australia.As skipper of the women’s team Williams was a standout as the Aussies finished third in the 2014/2015 Sevens World Series, which earned the side automatic qualification for the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 where Rugby Sevens will debut as an Olympic sport.

WALES

The Fosters National 7s took place in Cardiff Arms Park at the weekend with Scarlets Ladies  who overcame the Ospreys and then the Blues with some highly entertaining rugby. In a great advert for the women’s game, lifted the Radler’s Women’s trophy.They scored four impressive tries, a brace each for captain Sioned Harries and Lucy Demaine. The Blues added two quality scores of their own in the final for Rafiuke Taylor and Kat Lemon but the West Walians proved too strong and added the sevens title to their 15-a-side victory earlier in the season. They had earlier overcome the Ospreys 24-19.Sioned Harries commented, “At the start of the season we become regional 15-a-side champions so to do the double is amazing. It’s rare for us to get to play at a venue like this in front of a good crowd and all the girls embraced that today. It was a great effort by everyone, we were able to showcase our talent and more people are aware now of what women’s rugby is all about.”