Women's Rugby World Cup: What you need to know
Photo:
Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
Rugby World Cup: Black Ferns v Spain
Kickoff 4.30pm, Monday, 25 August
York Community Stadium, York
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
The pinnacle of women's rugby is upon us, when the 2025 Rugby World Cup kicks off on Saturday morning, with hosts England taking on the USA at Sunderland.
New nations, a new trophy and a new outlook on the women's game will make this year's tournament the biggest yet.
Here's what you need to know:
Women's Rugby World Cup
Edition: 10th
Hosts: England
Teams: 16
Dates: 22 August-27 September
Defending champions: New Zealand
New Zealand's first title came in 1998.
Photo:
© Photosport Ltd / www.photosport.nz
The path for female players was paved with prejudice. The mere notion of a Women's World Cup was derided by the dinosaurs governing the game back in the early 1990s.
The World Cup was conceived by Englishwomen and Richmond teammates Deborah Griffin, Sue Dorrington, Alice Cooper and Mary Forsyth, and the quartet secured Wales as the host nation.
The media didn't cover it. The International Rugby Board refused to sanction it and just 3000 fans turned up to watch the final at Cardiff Arms Park.
Known as the 'Gal Blacks', New Zealand and the other competing nations were forced to fund their own way to Wales, with substandard training facilities and changing rooms. They were even forced to bring their second tournament forward to 1994, so it wouldn't clash with the men.
The issue persisted until 1998, when the IRB finally sanctioned the event.
The Kiwis claimed their next title in 2002 in Spain.
Photo:
© Photosport Ltd 2002 www.photosport.co.nz
In an inauspicious World Cup debut, the Black Ferns were knocked out by USA in the semifinals of the first tournament and did not appear at the second event in 1994, due to the IRB's refusal to sanction it.
However, their 1998 win ushered in a decade of dominance. Their 44-12 win over the United States in the final was followed by a trio of tight tussles with the English in 2002 (19-9), 2006 (25-17) and 2010 (13-10).
They won four titles on the trot, until 2014, when Ireland abruptly halted their 20-match unbeaten run with a 17-14 win. New Zealand went on to win their final pool match against USA, but still failed to qualify for the semis for the first time.
Normality resumed in 2017, when the Kiwis reclaiming their crown with a 41-32 win over the 'Red Roses', before 2022 saw the most epic clash in women's rugby history at Eden Park, ending in a dramatic 34-31 Ferns win.
The Ferns edged old foes England in the 2006 final.
Photo:
Paul Seiser
More than 375,000 tickets have already been sold, three times more than in 2022.
The Twickenham final is sold out, with 82,000 tickets, marking the largest crowd ever for a women's rugby union match.
This will be the first edition officially known as the 'Women's Rugby World Cup'.
England enter the tournament as favourites, after winning 57 of their last 58 games.
All six World Rugby regions will be represented, with a South American team - Brazil - making its debut.
A new trophy will be contested in 2025, the third in the tournament's history - it's 38cm tall, weighs 4.5kg and made from 24 carat gold.
Emily Scarratt will become first England player to appear in five Women's Rugby World Cups.
English referee Sara Cox will officiate at her fifth World Cup.
The tournament will feature an all-female panel of 10 referees, including Kiwis Maggie Cogger-Orr and Natarsha Ganley.
New Zealand edged hosts England in 2010 by three points.
Photo:
Paul Seiser
Top pointscorer: Emily Scarratt, England 175
Top tryscorer: Portia Woodman, New Zealand 20
Most tries in a single tournament: Portia Woodman 13 (2017)
Most tries in a single match: Portia Woodman 8 (2017)
Most points in a single match: Magali Harvey, Canada 41 (2017)
Most appearances: Gillian Florence, Canada 23
Biggest winning margin: New Zealand 134-6 v Germany (1998)
For the first time since 1994, a team other than New Zealand lifted the trophy in 2014.
Photo:
Dan Sheridan
Emily Scarratt (England) - A wealth of experience
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (New Zealand) - The GWOAT
Ellie Kildunne (England) - Reigning World Player of the Year
Braxton Sorenson-McGee (New Zealand) - Brings youthful exuberance from the back
Ilona Maher (USA) - Social media superstar
Alex Tessier (Canada) - Versatile leader
Jorja Miller (New Zealand) - Transitioned seamlessly to 15's
Pauline Bourdon Sansus (France) - Enigmatic halfback
Emily Chancellor (Australia) - Uncompromising and tenacious
Back to the status quo in 2017, with the Black Ferns defeating England to reclaim their crown.
Photo:
©INPHO/Dan Sheridan, ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
1991 - USA 19-6 England
1994 - England 38-23 USA
1998 - New Zealand 44-12 USA
2002 - New Zealand 19-9 England
2006 - New Zealand 25-17 England
2010 - New Zealand 13-10 England
2014 - England 21-9 Canada
2017 - New Zealand 41-32 England
2021 - New Zealand 34-31 England
New Zealand - six titles (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2021)
England - two titles (1994, 2014)
USA - one title (1991)
The Black Ferns have won six World Cups in their storied history.
Photo:
ALAN_LEE
2025 Rugby World Cup 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
The Black Ferns share their pool with newcomers Spain, as well as Japan and Ireland.
Photo:
Photosport
All times NZT
Pool Stage
Monday, 25 August - New Zealand v Spain, Pool C, York, 4.30am
Monday, 1 September - New Zealand v Japan, Pool C, Exeter, 1am
Monday, 8 September - New Zealand v Ireland, Pool C, 1.45am
Quarterfinals
Sunday, 14 September
Winners Pool C v Runners-up Pool D, midnight
Winners Pool B v Runners-up Pool A, 3am
Monday, 15 September
Winners Pool D v Runners-up Pool C, midnight
Winners Pool A v Runners-up Pool B, 3am
Semifinals
Saturday, 20 September - Winners QF1 v Winners QF2, 6am
Sunday, 21 September - Winners QF3 v Winners QF4, 2.30am
Bronze-medal playoff
Saturday, 27 September - Losers SF1 v Losers SF2, 11.30pm
Final
Sunday, 28 September - Winners SF1 v Winners SF2, 3am
The Black ferns are looking to win their seventh Rugby World Cup title.
Photo:
ALAN_LEE
Props - Kate Henwood, Tanya Kalounivale, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, Amy Rule, , Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Chryss Viliko
Hookers - Vici-Rose Green, Atlanta Lolohea, Georgia Ponsonby
Locks - Alana Bremner, Chelsea Bremner, Laura Bayfield, Maiakawanakaulani Roos
Loose forwards - Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Jorja Miller, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Layla Sae, Kennedy Tukuafu
Halfbacks - Iritana Hohaia, Maia Joseph, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane
First-fives - Kelly Brazier, Ruahei Demant
Midfielders - Sylvia Brunt, Amy du Plessis, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai'i, Theresa Setefano, Stacey Waaka
Outside backs - Renee Holmes, Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
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