Latest news with #RWC25
Leader Live
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Rugby World Cup: England favourites on home soil as women's rugby seeks to shine
The formidable Red Roses have swept aside all before them since suffering defeat to New Zealand in the final of the 2022 tournament. Even that agonising 34-31 loss in Auckland – the team's solitary setback in their past 58 matches – was mitigated by an early red card for wing Lydia Thompson. England have now gone 27 games and more than 1,000 days without defeat, clinched seven consecutive Six Nations titles, and avenged heartbreak at the hands of the Black Ferns by winning three subsequent meetings. John Mitchell's hosts kick off their quest for World Cup glory on Friday evening against the United States in Sunderland and will also face Samoa and Australia in Pool A. Lifting silverware at Twickenham is the obvious aim but it is intertwined with ambitions of elevating the women's game. England's players have repeatedly cited as inspiration the substantial growth of women's football sparked by the Lionesses winning Euro 2022 at Wembley before retaining the title this summer in Switzerland. Sally Horrox, World Rugby's chief of women's rugby, also senses a major opportunity in the next five weeks. 'The time is now for women's rugby, the time is now for women's sport,' she said 'It's hugely important we make the very most of this opportunity. What we experience here in England will be that launchpad for future growth.' Since the USA won the inaugural World Cup in 1991, only six-time champions New Zealand and two-time winners England have triumphed. For 2025, the competition has expanded from 12 teams to 16, a new sterling silver trophy has been unveiled and the appetite of spectators is already unprecedented. More than 375,000 of the 470,000 available tickets for 32 matches across eight cities have been snapped up, with the record attendance for a women's rugby match set to be smashed on Saturday, September 27 in the sold-out final at the 82,000-capacity Allianz Stadium in south-west London. Ready to battle on home soil 💪 The Red Roses squad for #RWC25 🌹 — Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) July 24, 2025 England may bear the bulk of expectation but there is plenty of anticipation among the other home nations. Wales and Scotland clash in a potentially-pivotal opening Pool B fixture ahead of showdowns with group favourites Canada, who sit second in the global standings, and Fiji. Fifth-ranked Ireland will attempt to make up for the disappointment of failing to qualify for the last World Cup by progressing from Pool C, which they conclude against New Zealand after facing Japan and Spain. Meanwhile, South America will be represented for the first time as lone debutants Brazil bid to upset France, South Africa and Italy in Pool D. If the tournament is to leave a lasting legacy, it will require a host of star names to lead the way. World player of the year Ellie Kildunne headlines the standout talent in the England camp, while exciting 18-year-old Australian Caitlyn Halse, New Zealand back-row Jorja Miller and Canada's Sophie de Goede each have the potential to light up proceedings. The ingredients are all there for a genuine showcase of the women's game at its finest which could well become a watershed moment. If England can handle the pressure, a landmark victory on home soil – and third overall following successes in 1994 and 2014 – would be one to savour. If not, New Zealand, Canada and France are the leading contenders to capitalise.
South Wales Guardian
15 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Rugby World Cup: England favourites on home soil as women's rugby seeks to shine
The formidable Red Roses have swept aside all before them since suffering defeat to New Zealand in the final of the 2022 tournament. Even that agonising 34-31 loss in Auckland – the team's solitary setback in their past 58 matches – was mitigated by an early red card for wing Lydia Thompson. England have now gone 27 games and more than 1,000 days without defeat, clinched seven consecutive Six Nations titles, and avenged heartbreak at the hands of the Black Ferns by winning three subsequent meetings. John Mitchell's hosts kick off their quest for World Cup glory on Friday evening against the United States in Sunderland and will also face Samoa and Australia in Pool A. Lifting silverware at Twickenham is the obvious aim but it is intertwined with ambitions of elevating the women's game. England's players have repeatedly cited as inspiration the substantial growth of women's football sparked by the Lionesses winning Euro 2022 at Wembley before retaining the title this summer in Switzerland. Sally Horrox, World Rugby's chief of women's rugby, also senses a major opportunity in the next five weeks. 'The time is now for women's rugby, the time is now for women's sport,' she said 'It's hugely important we make the very most of this opportunity. What we experience here in England will be that launchpad for future growth.' Since the USA won the inaugural World Cup in 1991, only six-time champions New Zealand and two-time winners England have triumphed. For 2025, the competition has expanded from 12 teams to 16, a new sterling silver trophy has been unveiled and the appetite of spectators is already unprecedented. More than 375,000 of the 470,000 available tickets for 32 matches across eight cities have been snapped up, with the record attendance for a women's rugby match set to be smashed on Saturday, September 27 in the sold-out final at the 82,000-capacity Allianz Stadium in south-west London. Ready to battle on home soil 💪 The Red Roses squad for #RWC25 🌹 — Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) July 24, 2025 England may bear the bulk of expectation but there is plenty of anticipation among the other home nations. Wales and Scotland clash in a potentially-pivotal opening Pool B fixture ahead of showdowns with group favourites Canada, who sit second in the global standings, and Fiji. Fifth-ranked Ireland will attempt to make up for the disappointment of failing to qualify for the last World Cup by progressing from Pool C, which they conclude against New Zealand after facing Japan and Spain. Meanwhile, South America will be represented for the first time as lone debutants Brazil bid to upset France, South Africa and Italy in Pool D. If the tournament is to leave a lasting legacy, it will require a host of star names to lead the way. World player of the year Ellie Kildunne headlines the standout talent in the England camp, while exciting 18-year-old Australian Caitlyn Halse, New Zealand back-row Jorja Miller and Canada's Sophie de Goede each have the potential to light up proceedings. The ingredients are all there for a genuine showcase of the women's game at its finest which could well become a watershed moment. If England can handle the pressure, a landmark victory on home soil – and third overall following successes in 1994 and 2014 – would be one to savour. If not, New Zealand, Canada and France are the leading contenders to capitalise.
Irish Examiner
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ireland's Stacey Flood aims to hit the ground running at World Cup
Stacey Flood insists that Ireland intend to start off as they mean to go on when they get their World Cup campaign underway against Japan this Sunday. Scott Bemand's team has taken its time to get into gear through the warm-up stage with Scotland shooting into a 14-0 lead in Cork and Canada amassing a 40-7 lead a week later before their hosts in Belfast found their feet. Avoiding a repeat against a Japanese team that is targeting a repeat of their men's side's famous defeat of the Springboks in England ten years ago will be first on the agenda as the Pool C story starts to be told. "From warm-up games, you don't want to go out the blocks too early and be performing 10 out of 10 because that's what the warm-up games are for: they are to learn what you need to do, right and wrong,' said Flood. 'I feel we got what we wanted out of those games. 'We found areas that we need to improve on, and we have been improving on them in the last few days. We started slow in those games, so that's going to be a big focus of ours going into the weekend, that we put our game out there first and we start fast. "We didn't get into the Irish way enough, starting our game as soon as we get onto the field. We kind of took 20 minutes to get into the games. 'That put us on the back foot in both games and waiting for something to happen, whereas we actually have to go out and put our front foot first and make things happen for ourselves.' Japan are ranked eleventh in the world, six places below Ireland, but they have benefited as much as anyone by the increased Test schedule of recent years thanks to the advent of the three-tier WXV series. Italy, Scotland and Wales have all been pushed to the pin of their collars and a first win over the USA, an historically strong presence in the women's game that has weakened in recent years, was another boon as they look to make an imprint of RWC25. "Japan are so diligent,' said Flood, the Irish full-back. 'They might not be the biggest team, but they're so skilful and their kicks are on a T, their passes are on a T, they're really good jackal threats. 'We know what they're good at, but it's also just about bringing back to our squad and what our strengths are and not playing too much to the opposition. When you start changing for other people, you go away from your own game. We're happy with where our game is and we know what we're good at.'
Rhyl Journal
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Rugby World Cup: England favourites on home soil as women's rugby seeks to shine
The formidable Red Roses have swept aside all before them since suffering defeat to New Zealand in the final of the 2022 tournament. Even that agonising 34-31 loss in Auckland – the team's solitary setback in their past 58 matches – was mitigated by an early red card for wing Lydia Thompson. England have now gone 27 games and more than 1,000 days without defeat, clinched seven consecutive Six Nations titles, and avenged heartbreak at the hands of the Black Ferns by winning three subsequent meetings. John Mitchell's hosts kick off their quest for World Cup glory on Friday evening against the United States in Sunderland and will also face Samoa and Australia in Pool A. Lifting silverware at Twickenham is the obvious aim but it is intertwined with ambitions of elevating the women's game. England's players have repeatedly cited as inspiration the substantial growth of women's football sparked by the Lionesses winning Euro 2022 at Wembley before retaining the title this summer in Switzerland. Sally Horrox, World Rugby's chief of women's rugby, also senses a major opportunity in the next five weeks. 'The time is now for women's rugby, the time is now for women's sport,' she said 'It's hugely important we make the very most of this opportunity. What we experience here in England will be that launchpad for future growth.' Since the USA won the inaugural World Cup in 1991, only six-time champions New Zealand and two-time winners England have triumphed. For 2025, the competition has expanded from 12 teams to 16, a new sterling silver trophy has been unveiled and the appetite of spectators is already unprecedented. More than 375,000 of the 470,000 available tickets for 32 matches across eight cities have been snapped up, with the record attendance for a women's rugby match set to be smashed on Saturday, September 27 in the sold-out final at the 82,000-capacity Allianz Stadium in south-west London. Ready to battle on home soil 💪 The Red Roses squad for #RWC25 🌹 — Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) July 24, 2025 England may bear the bulk of expectation but there is plenty of anticipation among the other home nations. Wales and Scotland clash in a potentially-pivotal opening Pool B fixture ahead of showdowns with group favourites Canada, who sit second in the global standings, and Fiji. Fifth-ranked Ireland will attempt to make up for the disappointment of failing to qualify for the last World Cup by progressing from Pool C, which they conclude against New Zealand after facing Japan and Spain. Meanwhile, South America will be represented for the first time as lone debutants Brazil bid to upset France, South Africa and Italy in Pool D. If the tournament is to leave a lasting legacy, it will require a host of star names to lead the way. World player of the year Ellie Kildunne headlines the standout talent in the England camp, while exciting 18-year-old Australian Caitlyn Halse, New Zealand back-row Jorja Miller and Canada's Sophie de Goede each have the potential to light up proceedings. The ingredients are all there for a genuine showcase of the women's game at its finest which could well become a watershed moment. If England can handle the pressure, a landmark victory on home soil – and third overall following successes in 1994 and 2014 – would be one to savour. If not, New Zealand, Canada and France are the leading contenders to capitalise.
North Wales Chronicle
19 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Rugby World Cup: England favourites on home soil as women's rugby seeks to shine
The formidable Red Roses have swept aside all before them since suffering defeat to New Zealand in the final of the 2022 tournament. Even that agonising 34-31 loss in Auckland – the team's solitary setback in their past 58 matches – was mitigated by an early red card for wing Lydia Thompson. England have now gone 27 games and more than 1,000 days without defeat, clinched seven consecutive Six Nations titles, and avenged heartbreak at the hands of the Black Ferns by winning three subsequent meetings. John Mitchell's hosts kick off their quest for World Cup glory on Friday evening against the United States in Sunderland and will also face Samoa and Australia in Pool A. Lifting silverware at Twickenham is the obvious aim but it is intertwined with ambitions of elevating the women's game. England's players have repeatedly cited as inspiration the substantial growth of women's football sparked by the Lionesses winning Euro 2022 at Wembley before retaining the title this summer in Switzerland. Sally Horrox, World Rugby's chief of women's rugby, also senses a major opportunity in the next five weeks. 'The time is now for women's rugby, the time is now for women's sport,' she said 'It's hugely important we make the very most of this opportunity. What we experience here in England will be that launchpad for future growth.' Since the USA won the inaugural World Cup in 1991, only six-time champions New Zealand and two-time winners England have triumphed. For 2025, the competition has expanded from 12 teams to 16, a new sterling silver trophy has been unveiled and the appetite of spectators is already unprecedented. More than 375,000 of the 470,000 available tickets for 32 matches across eight cities have been snapped up, with the record attendance for a women's rugby match set to be smashed on Saturday, September 27 in the sold-out final at the 82,000-capacity Allianz Stadium in south-west London. Ready to battle on home soil 💪 The Red Roses squad for #RWC25 🌹 — Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) July 24, 2025 England may bear the bulk of expectation but there is plenty of anticipation among the other home nations. Wales and Scotland clash in a potentially-pivotal opening Pool B fixture ahead of showdowns with group favourites Canada, who sit second in the global standings, and Fiji. Fifth-ranked Ireland will attempt to make up for the disappointment of failing to qualify for the last World Cup by progressing from Pool C, which they conclude against New Zealand after facing Japan and Spain. Meanwhile, South America will be represented for the first time as lone debutants Brazil bid to upset France, South Africa and Italy in Pool D. If the tournament is to leave a lasting legacy, it will require a host of star names to lead the way. World player of the year Ellie Kildunne headlines the standout talent in the England camp, while exciting 18-year-old Australian Caitlyn Halse, New Zealand back-row Jorja Miller and Canada's Sophie de Goede each have the potential to light up proceedings. The ingredients are all there for a genuine showcase of the women's game at its finest which could well become a watershed moment. If England can handle the pressure, a landmark victory on home soil – and third overall following successes in 1994 and 2014 – would be one to savour. If not, New Zealand, Canada and France are the leading contenders to capitalise.
