The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 draw took center stage on BBC’s The One Show, one of the network’s most-watched programs, broadcasting live from the heart of London at Broadcasting House. The highly anticipated draw was conducted by BBC Sport’s Gabby Logan, England Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 winner Maggie Alphonsi, and presenter Roman Kemp, with PwC ensuring the process was independently overseen.
As the fixtures are set to be revealed on Tuesday, 22 October, the excitement among fans is palpable. Many are eagerly planning their World Cup experience as the tournament edges closer.
Before the draw, the 16 teams were seeded into four bands based on their World Rugby Women’s Rankings (as of 14 October). The top four teams—England, Canada, New Zealand, and France—were automatically placed into the first position of each pool.
The draw for Pool A sees host nation and current world number one, England, grouped with Australia, USA, and Samoa. In Pool B, second-ranked Canada will face Scotland, Wales, and Fiji. Pool C includes reigning champions New Zealand, who will play Ireland, Japan, and Spain. Meanwhile, France, the bronze medalists from Rugby World Cup 2021, are placed in Pool D alongside Italy, South Africa, and Brazil.
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Pools:
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
Over three weekends, each team will play their pool opponents, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the quarter-finals and knockout stages.
England 2025 promises to be the most accessible Women’s Rugby World Cup to date. With 95% of England’s population living within two hours of one of the eight iconic match venues, and 60% of tickets priced under £25, fans are set to unite for a historic event. Early ticket sales have broken records, with over 60,000 fans already securing seats for England’s opener in Sunderland and the final matches at Twickenham. England will also play pool games in Northampton and Brighton & Hove.
Fans will be able to apply for tickets for all matches starting at 11:00 GMT on Tuesday, 5 November, with applications closing at 11:00 GMT on Tuesday, 19 November. In the event of oversubscription, ballots will determine ticket allocations.
Sarah Massey, Managing Director of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, expressed her excitement, saying: “With anticipation building among fans and teams, today marks an important step forward for what promises to be an unforgettable tournament. Next week’s match schedule unveiling will allow fans and host cities to truly begin preparing for their Rugby World Cup 2025 experience.”
With a tournament set to be a defining moment for women’s rugby, the stage is now set for the world's best teams to compete for ultimate glory.
[Submitted by Estea Rademeyer]