Women’s Rugby World Cup kicks off on August 22nd

After the England Women’s Football team had us all on the edge of our seats, we have just three weeks to catch our breath before the next big international sporting event – the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Kicking off on Saturday 22nd August and concluding with the final at Twickenham on Saturday 27th September, the WRWC promises to be bigger and better then ever. With and expanded format – up from 12 teams to 16 – and set to be viewed in 150 countries around the world, it will truly be a showcase for the women’s game.

This is the 10th edition of the competition with the inaugural event taking place in Wales in 1991. New Zealand are reigning champions and have dominated the tournaments, winning six out of the previous nine competitions. England are second with two wins – the most recent in 2014 - and six second place finishes.

As hosts and the world number one ranked team, England start the tournament as favourites. They have a score to settle having finished the previous two tournaments in second place to New Zealand. However the Kiwis have slipped to third in the world rankings behind 2022 semi-finalists Canada, while France and Australia remain forces to be reckoned with.

Just as the EUROs were seen as crucial to the development of women’s football, so the WRWC 2025 will be seen as a statement about the future of women's rugby. World Rugby has made significant investments to professionalise the game, with increased funding, coaching standards, and infrastructure development across all participating nations.

In financial terms, World Rugby has committed £6.4 million in direct support to rugby unions participating in the WXV (Women’s XV), a global competition launched in 2023, to give more nations consistent, meaningful test matches to improve standards and visibility. The WRWC 2025 will aim to capitalise on that investment.

England get their campaign under way at the Stadium of Light on Friday 22nd August against the USA. The other home nations, Scotland and Wales, face each other the next day on 23rd August.

To whet your appetite, check out the highlights of the 2022 WRWC final in Auckland, New Zealand, where the hosts edged England in a real nail-biter.