The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, taking place in England from 22 August to 27 September, will mark the tournament’s tenth edition and its most expansive yet, featuring 16 teams for the first time.

Hosted across eight venues, from Sunderland’s Stadium of Light to a grand finale at Twickenham, this World Rugby-organized event is poised to break attendance records, with over 220,000 tickets already sold. Defending champions New Zealand—winners of six of the nine previous editions—remain favourites, but they face fierce competition from hosts England, France, Canada, and Australia.

England, last crowned champions in 2014, have since lost two finals to the Black Ferns but head into the tournament on an unbeaten run since 2022, including victories over New Zealand in WXV1.
Making their fifth appearance, the Springbok Women of South Africa qualified by winning the 2024 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup with a 46–17 win over Madagascar. Led by seasoned captain Nolusindiso Booi, they are drawn in Pool D alongside France, Italy, and debutants Brazil. Their campaign begins on 24 August at Franklin’s Gardens against Brazil.

As part of World Rugby’s Impact Beyond 2025 legacy programme, the tournament aims to elevate women’s rugby on and off the field, with fan-friendly kick-off times and strong grassroots initiatives. With new teams, passionate crowds, and high-level competition, the 2025 edition promises to be a landmark moment in the global rise of women’s rugby.

Pools:
Pools were drawn on 17 October, with England, Canada, New Zealand and France the four top-seeded teams. The pools are:
Pool A England, Australia, USA, Samoa
Pool B Canada, Scotland, Wales, Fiji
Pool C New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, Spain
Pool D France, Italy, South Africa, Brazil


Fixtures
Friday 22 August 2025
England v USA (Pool A)
Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Kick-off: 7.30pm BST / 8.30pm SAST / 4.30am AEST (Saturday) / 7.30am NZDT (Saturday) / 2.30pm ET / 11.30am PT
Saturday 23 August 2025
Australia v Samoa (Pool A)
Salford Community Stadium, Salford
Kick-off: 12.00pm BST / 1.00pm SAST / 9.00pm AEST / 12am NZDT (Sunday) / 7.00am ET / 4.00am PT
Scotland v Wales (Pool B)
Salford Community Stadium, Salford
Kick-off: 2.45pm BST / 3.45pm SAST / 11.45pm AEST / 2.45am NZDT (Sunday) / 9.45am ET / 6.45am PT
Canada v Fiji (Pool B)
York Community Stadium, York
Kick-off: 5.30pm BST / 6.30pm SAST / 2.30am AEST (Sunday) / 5.30am NZDT (Sunday) / 12.30pm ET / 9.30am PT
France v Italy (Pool D)
Sandy Park, Exeter
Kick-off: 8.15pm BST / 9.15pm SAST / 5.15am AEST (Sunday) / 8.15am NZDT (Sunday) / 3.15pm ET / 12.15pm PT
Sunday 24 August 2025
Ireland v Japan (Pool C)
Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
Kick-off: 12.00pm BST / 1.00pm SAST / 9.00pm AEST / 12am NZDT (Monday) / 7.00am ET / 4.00am PT
South Africa v Brazil (Pool D)
Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
Kick-off: 2.45pm BST / 3.45pm SAST / 11.45pm AEST / 2.45am NZDT (Monday) / 9.45am ET / 6.45am PT
New Zealand v Spain (Pool C)
York Community Stadium, York
Kick-off: 5.30pm BST / 6.30pm SAST / 2.30am AEST (Monday) / 5.30am NZDT (Monday) / 12.30pm ET / 9.30am PT
Saturday 30 August 2025
Canada v Wales (Pool B)
Salford Community Stadium, Salford
Kick-off: 12.00pm BST / 1.00pm SAST / 9.00pm AEST / 12am NZDT (Sunday) / 7.00am ET / 4.00am PT
Scotland v Fiji (Pool B)
Salford Community Stadium, Salford
Kick-off: 2.45pm BST / 3.45pm SAST / 11.45pm AEST / 2.45am NZDT (Sunday) / 9.45am ET / 6.45am PT
England v Samoa (Pool A)
Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
Kick-off: 5.00pm BST / 6.00pm SAST / 2.00am AEST (Sunday) / 5.00am NZDT (Sunday) / 12.00pm ET / 9.00am PT
USA v Australia (Pool A)
York Community Stadium, York
Kick-off: 7.30pm BST / 8.30pm SAST / 4.30am AEST (Sunday) / 7.30am NZDT (Sunday) / 2.30pm ET / 11.30am PT
Sunday 31 August 2025
Ireland v Spain (Pool C)
Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
Kick-off: 12.00pm BST / 1.00pm SAST / 9.00pm AEST / 12am NZDT (Monday) / 7.00am ET / 4.00am PT
New Zealand v Japan (Pool C)
Sandy Park, Exeter
Kick-off: 2.00pm BST / 3.00pm SAST / 11.00pm AEST / 2.00am NZDT (Monday) / 9.00am ET / 6.00am PT
Italy v South Africa (Pool D)
York Community Stadium, York
Kick-off: 3.30pm BST / 4.30pm SAST / 12.00am AEST (Monday) / 3.30am NZDT (Monday) / 10.30am ET / 7.30am PT
France v Brazil (Pool D)
Sandy Park, Exeter
Kick-off: 4.45pm BST / 5.45om SAST / 1.45am AEST (Monday) / 4.45am NZDT (Monday) / 11.45am ET / 8.45am PT
Saturday 6 September 2025
Canada v Scotland (Pool B)
Sandy Park, Exeter
Kick-off: 12.00pm BST / 1.00pm SAST / 9.00pm AEST / 12am NZDT (Sunday) / 7.00am ET / 4.00am PT
USA v Samoa (Pool A)
York Community Stadium, York
Kick-off: 1.30pm BST / 2.30pm SAST / 10.30pm AEST / 1.30am NZDT (Sunday) / 7.30am ET / 4.30am PT
Wales v Fiji (Pool B)
Sandy Park, Exeter
Kick-off: 2.45pm BST / 3.45pm SAST / 11.45pm AEST / 2.45am NZDT (Sunday) / 9.45am ET / 6.45am PT
England v Australia (Pool A)
Brighton and Hove Stadium, Brighton
Kick-off: 5.00pm BST / 6.00pm SAST / 2.00am AEST (Sunday) / 5.00am NZDT (Sunday) / 12.00pm ET / 9.00am PT
Sunday 7 September 2025
Japan v Spain (Pool C)
York Community Stadium, York
Kick-off: 12.00pm BST / 1.00pm SAST / 9.00pm AEST / 12.00am NZDT (Monday) / 7.00am ET / 4.00am PT
Italy v Brazil (Pool D)
Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
Kick-off: 2.00pm BST / 3.00pm SAST / 11.00pm AEST / 2.00am NZDT (Monday) / 9.00am ET / 6.00am PT
New Zealand v Ireland (Pool C)
Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium, Brighton
Kick-off: 2.45pm BST / 3.45pm SAST / 11.45pm AEST / 2.45am NZDT (Sunday) / 9.45am ET / 6.45am PT
France v South Africa (Pool D)
Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
Kick-off: 4.45pm BST / 5.45om SAST / 1.45am AEST (Monday) / 4.45am NZDT (Monday) / 11.45am ET / 8.45am PT
Saturday 13 September 2025
Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D (quarter-final one)
Sandy Park, Exeter
Kick-off: 12.30pm BST / 1.30pm SAST / 9.30pm AEST / 12.30am NZDT (Sunday) / 7.30am ET / 4.30am PT
Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A (quarter-final two)
Ashton Gate, Bristol
Kick-off: 4.00pm BST / 5.00pm SAST / 1.00am AEST (Sunday) / 4.00am NZDT (Sunday) / 11.00am ET / 8.00am PT
Sunday 14 September 2025
Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C (quarter-final three)
Sandy Park, Exeter
Kick-off: 12.30pm BST / 1.30pm SAST / 9.30pm AEST / 12.30am NZDT (Sunday) / 7.30am ET / 4.30am PT
Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B (quarter-final four)
Ashton Gate, Bristol
Kick-off: 4.00pm BST / 5.00pm SAST / 1.00am AEST (Sunday) / 4.00am NZDT (Sunday) / 11.00am ET / 8.00am PT
Friday 19 September 2025
Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
Ashton Gate, Bristol
Kick-off: 7.00pm BST / 8.00pm SAST / 4.00am AEST (Saturday) / 7.00am NZDT (Saturday) / 2.00pm ET / 11.00am PT
Saturday 20 September 2025
Winner QF3 v Winner QF4
Ashton Gate, Bristol
Kick-off: 3.30pm BST / 4.30pm SAST / 12.00am AEST (Monday) / 3.30am NZDT (Monday) / 10.30am ET / 7.30am PT
Saturday 27 September 2025
Loser SF1 v Loser SF2 (bronze final)
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Kick-off: 12.30pm BST / 1.30pm SAST / 9.30pm AEST / 12.30am NZDT (Sunday) / 7.30am ET / 4.30am PT
Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 (final)
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Kick-off: 4.00pm BST / 5.00pm SAST / 1.00am AEST (Sunday) / 4.00am NZDT (Sunday) / 11.00am ET / 8.00am PT

Host venues
The tournament will be held in England. Multiple venues across the country will be used for the competition:
Stadium of Light, Sunderland
AMEX Stadium , Brighton and Hove Albion
Ashton Gate, Bristol
Sandy Park, Exeter
Franklins Gardens, Northampton
Salford Community Stadium, Manchester
York Community Stadium, York
Twickenham Allianz Stadium, London
Whoever England play first in the pool stage will compete at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.

Tickets
Fans can apply for tickets on the Rugby World Cup website.

[Submitted by Kevin Rademeyer]