Finishing third in the 2023 Women's Six Nations would see Wales secure a spot competing against the best sides in the world in new competition WXV, which is launching later this year.
The 16-team, three-tier annual competition announced by World Rugby in 2021 is billed on “supercharging” women's 15-a-side rugby ahead of the expanded 16-team 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, for which the WXV will form a key part of the qualification process - as the top five ranked non-qualified teams at the end of WXV 2024 will qualify for the World Cup.
Last year, Wales had their best Six Nations finish in 13 years as victories over Scotland and Ireland secured them a third-place finish. Such a finish in this year's campaign would guarantee Wales a spot in the top tier of the new WXV tournament, which could see Wales play regular autumn rugby against the likes of England, New Zealand and France in preparation for the next World Cup.
