The 2002 Women's Rugby World Cup was the second World Cup fully sanctioned by the sports governing body the International Rugby Board (IRB). The tournament was held in Barcelona, Spain. The format was the same as the previous tournament and again 16 nations competed.
For the first time a pre-tournament qualification match took place to decide Asia's second representative but other than that all competitors took part by invitation. 14 of the 16 teams taking part were the same as in 1998 but two lowest ranked European teams (Sweden and Russia) were replaced by teams from Asia (Japan) and Oceania (Samoa).
The competition was won by defending champions, New Zealand.
Read more about 2002 Women's Rugby World Cup: Qualifier, World Cup Tournament
Famous quotes containing the words women, world and/or cup:
“Show me a frigid women and, nine times out of ten, I’ll show you a little man.”
—Julie Burchill (b. 1960)
“There is hope for the future. When the world is ready for a new and better life all this will some day come to pass in God’s good time.”
—Earl Felton, and Richard Fleischer. Captain Nemo (James Mason)
“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?”
—Bible: New Testament, 1 Corinthians 10:16.