Introduction
The 2006 Women’s Rugby World Cup was held in Edmonton, Canada, from August 31 to September 17, 2006. It was the third officially sanctioned World Cup by the International Rugby Board (IRB) and brought together the 12 best women’s national teams in the world.
The tournament represented a major step forward for women’s rugby. For the first time, every match was filmed and broadcast worldwide, and the final took place at the Commonwealth Stadium, a venue usually reserved for major international events.
New Zealand once again proved its supremacy by winning its third consecutive world title, defeating England in a thrilling final by 25–17. The “Black Ferns” solidified their reputation as the world’s leading women’s rugby power.
Participating Teams
Twelve nations took part in the competition, selected by the IRB based on their performances in the 2002 World Cup and subsequent international results.
Only Asia held a qualifying tournament, won by Kazakhstan.
Teams:
- Africa: South Africa
- Americas: Canada, United States
- Europe: England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Spain
- Oceania: New Zealand, Australia, Samoa
- Asia: Kazakhstan
Pool Stage
The 12 teams were divided into four pools (A–D) of three teams each.
The format used a cross-pool system: teams from Pool A played those from Pool D, and teams from Pool B played those from Pool C.
Pool A
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 137 | 7 | +130 | 14 |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 115 | -101 | 4 |
| 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 97 | -75 | 0 |
Pool B
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏴 England | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 16 | +103 | 14 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 84 | 46 | +38 | 6 |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 48 | 67 | -19 | 5 |
Pool C
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 France | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 75 | 37 | +38 | 10 |
| 🇺🇸 United States | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 34 | 35 | -1 | 9 |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 179 | -159 | 0 |
Pool D
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 131 | 71 | +60 | 10 |
| 🏴 Scotland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 38 | +18 | 10 |
| 🇼🇸 Samoa | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 64 | -32 | 5 |
Notable Pool Stage Results:
- New Zealand 66–7 Canada
- England 27–8 France
- Canada 79–0 Spain
- France 43–0 Ireland
- Australia 68–12 South Africa
Knockout Stage
After the pool stage, teams were ranked by total points.
The top four advanced to the semi-finals, while the others played for ranking positions (5th–12th).
Semi-Finals
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand 40–10 France
- 🏴 England 20–14 Canada
Third Place Match
- 🇫🇷 France 17–8 Canada
Final – September 17, Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)
New Zealand 25–17 England
The Black Ferns displayed superior physicality and control, with tries from Amiria Marsh and Rochelle Martin. England fought back through Sue Day and Charlotte Barras, but New Zealand’s defense held firm to claim another world title.
🏆 Champion: New Zealand (3rd consecutive title)
🥈 Runner-up: England
🥉 Third place: France
Final Standings
| Position | Team |
|---|---|
| 🥇 | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
| 🥈 | 🏴 England |
| 🥉 | 🇫🇷 France |
| 4th | 🇨🇦 Canada |
| 5th | 🇺🇸 United States |
| 6th | 🏴 Scotland |
| 7th | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| 8th | 🇮🇪 Ireland |
| 9th | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| 10th | 🇼🇸 Samoa |
| 11th | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan |
| 12th | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Outstanding Players
- Heather Moyse (Canada): Tournament’s top scorer and try leader with 35 points and 7 tries; known for her speed and strength.
- Sue Day (England): England’s attacking star, scoring 6 tries and providing crucial experience.
- Amiria Marsh (New Zealand): Key to the champions’ backline, also with 6 tries.
- Emma Jensen (New Zealand): Controlled the pace of play, finishing as the second-highest point scorer (34 pts).
- Valuese Sao Taliu (Samoa): One of the tournament’s surprises, scoring 5 tries and 33 points for an emerging side.