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YEAR IN REVIEW 2015 WORLD RUGBY 61missing out. The six regional associations then held their qualifying tournaments with Colombia, USA, France, Fiji, Japan and Kenya coming through to join hosts Brazil at Rio 2016, leaving only one place to be filled by the global repechage winner in Dublin in June.The 2015-16 Series got off to a flying start in Dubai with what’s been tagged as the most exciting event to date. Russia and Australia reached the final unbeaten with the Russians kicking the tournament off with a record win over world and series champions New Zealand, while Fiji and new core team Ireland also caused upsets on day one. Australia went on to take the honours and we look forward to further surprising moments throughout the rest of the series.Meanwhile in the 15s game, the Women’s Six Nations reached an exciting climax as it came down to points difference and Ireland came out on top, while Italy recorded their best performance in the championship to date and finished third to take a giant step towards qualification for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 in Ireland.The European Trophy in Switzerland produced some surprises as the hosts defeated Russia on day one and Belgium went on to win the tournament following wins over the Czech Republic and then Switzerland in the final.In Africa, Kenya and Uganda battled it out for the Elgon Cup, which was won by a solitary point on aggregate after the first leg ended in a 5-5 draw in Kenya and the visitors then won the second 7-6. Japan, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan participated in a round robin format in the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship with the 370,000girls participated in Get Into Rugby programmes in 2015Japanese crowned champions for the first time.With the clock ticking down to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 in Ireland, plans are well underway and the qualification process is set to heat up in 2016. Attention is also turning to WRWC 2021 as the tender process has already commenced with unions invited to express their interest in hosting the tournament and the host will be announced in May 2018. LEFTSmiling faces at the Impact Beyond Rio 2016 festivalLEFTGet Into Rugby participants in the UAELEFTIreland’s national team coached age-grade girls at the World Series qualifier in Dublin WOMEN’S RUGBY | WORLD IN UNION