Womens Rugby World Cup 2025
The rugby calendar keeps getting bigger, and in 2025 fans have more games to attend and more tournaments to watch than ever. From the 6 Nations and the Rugby Championship to the Pacific Nations Cup for the Tier 2 faithful, there’s always a tournament on the horizon.
Every two years, the global game builds towards a World Cup — men’s or women’s — and this year it’s the women who take centre stage. The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup will be the ultimate showcase, with the best players on the planet battling it out over six weeks to be crowned world champions.
Come August 22nd the curtain will raise on one of the most hotly anticipated editions of the Women’s World Cup, when England take on the USA under the Friday night lights. Three weekends full of action will follow this, with the top two in each group qualifying for the Quarter-Finals.
The increase from 12 to 16 nations has also opened the door for some more developing nations in the women’s game to play their rugby in front of a global audience, with Brazil becoming the 22nd country to take part. This has also allowed nations like Wales and Scotland the chance to have easier qualification with the extra spots giving a wider berth for teams that routinely got to the latter stages of qualifying.
History of the Women’s Rugby World Cup
Starting back in 1991, the Women’s World Cup has been held nine times, and this year’s tournament in England marks the 10th edition. England now becomes the first nation to host multiple WRWCs, and the Red Roses are hoping to improve on their second-place finish on home soil back in 2010.
The hosts enter as one of the favourites, joined by the Black Ferns, who are chasing their seventh title. These two teams have consistently dominated the competition, facing off in five of the nine finals. The Black Ferns emerged victorious in each of those matchups, including the most recent final in 2021.
Together, England and New Zealand have claimed eight of the nine World Cups. The only other champion was the USA, who won the inaugural tournament in 1991.
With kick-off just days away, this is a tournament you won’t want to miss. Check below for the pools and fixture lists to stay up to date.
Fixtures
Friday 22 August
England v USA
Pool A: Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Saturday 23 August
Australia v Samoa
Pool A: Salford Community Stadium, Salford
Scotland v Wales
Pool B: Salford Community Stadium, Salford
Canada v Fiji
Pool B: York Community Stadium, York
France v Italy
Pool D: Sandy Park, Exeter
Sunday 24 August
Ireland v Japan
Pool C: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
South Africa v Brazil
Pool D: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
New Zealand v Spain
Pool C: York Community Stadium, York
Saturday 30 August
Canada v Wales
Pool B: Salford Community Stadium, Salford
Scotland v Fiji
Pool B: Salford Community Stadium, Salford
England v Samoa
Pool A: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
USA v Australia
Pool A: York Community Stadium, York
Sunday 31 August
Ireland v Spain
Pool C: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
New Zealand v Japan
Pool C: Sandy Park, Exeter
Italy v South Africa
Pool D: York Community Stadium, York
France v Brazil
Pool D: Sandy Park, Exeter
Saturday 6 September
Canada v Scotland
Pool B: Sandy Park, Exeter
USA v Samoa
Pool A: York Community Stadium, York
Wales v Fiji
Pool B: Sandy Park, Exeter
England v Australia
Pool A: Brighton and Hove Stadium, Brighton
Sunday 7 September
Japan v Spain
Pool C: York Community Stadium, York
Italy v Brazil
Pool D: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
New Zealand v Ireland
Pool C: Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium, Brighton
France v South Africa
Pool D: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
WRWC Quarter-Finals
Saturday 13 September
QF1: Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D
Sandy Park, Exeter
QF2: Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A
Ashton Gate, Bristol
Sunday 14 September
QF3: Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C
Sandy Park, Exeter
QF4: Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B
Ashton Gate, Bristol
WRWC Semi-Finals
Friday 19 September
SF1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
Ashton Gate, Bristol
Saturday 20 September
SF2: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4
Ashton Gate, Bristol
Saturday 27 September
3rd Place: Runner-up SF1 v Runner-up SF2
Twickenham Stadium, London
WRWC Final
Final: Winner SF1 v Winner SF2
Twickenham Stadium, London