2025 Women's Rugby World Cup Explained

Logo Upright:0.6
Women:yes
Datefrom:22 August
Dateto:27 September 2025
Host:England
Nations:16
Prev:2021
Next:2029

The 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup will be the tenth edition of the women's Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for national rugby union teams, organised by World Rugby. It is scheduled to take place in England between 22 August and 27 September 2025. The opening game will take place at the Stadium of Light with the final scheduled to be held at Twickenham Stadium.[1] [2]

It will be the second women's Rugby Union World Cup to be hosted by England, after the 2010 edition. It will be the fifth hosted in the British Isles.

The tournament will be expanded to 16 teams, from the 12 which participated in 2021.[3]

New Zealand enter the tournament as defending champions following their victory against in the 2021 Rugby World Cup Final.[4]

Host selection

On 13 August 2020 World Rugby announced that the hosting rights to the next two world cups, men's and women's, would be selected during the same process.[5] These were the 2027 and 2031 men's tournaments and the 2025 and 2029 women's tournaments. The RFU confirmed their intent to bid for the 2025 tournament in October 2021.[6]

World Rugby awarded England preferred candidate status for the 2025 tournament in November 2021.[7] England were confirmed as hosts on 13 May 2022.[8]

Venues

In August 2023, eight venues were confirmed for the 2025 Rugby World Cup.[9] [10]

LondonSunderlandBrighton and HoveBristol
Twickenham StadiumStadium of Light

Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium

Ashton Gate
Capacity: 82,000Capacity: 49,000Capacity: 31,876Capacity: 27,000
ExeterNorthamptonManchesterYork
Sandy ParkFranklin's Gardens

Salford Community Stadium

York Community Stadium
Capacity: 15,600Capacity: 15,249Capacity: 12,000Capacity: 8,500

In December 2023 it was announced that hosts England would open the tournament at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, and that the final would be held at Twickenham in London.[11]

In June 2024 World Rugby confirmed that the quarter-finals would be shared between Sandy Park and Ashton Gate, while Ashton Gate would host both semi-finals.[12]

Teams

Qualifying

See main article: 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup qualifying.

Sixteen teams will compete. Four teams automatically qualified by reaching the 2021 Rugby World Cup semi-finals; New Zealand, England, France & Canada. Six of the remaining twelve spots will be decided though the 2024 Six Nations, 2024 Pacific Four Series and regional competitions in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America, while the 2024 WXV will determine the final six places.[13] [14]

In Europe, Ireland reached their eighth World Cup after taking the region's qualifying place by defeating Scotland in the final round of the 2024 Women's Six Nations Championship.[15] In Africa, South Africa qualified for their fifth world cup after beating Madagascar in the final round of the 2024 Rugby Africa Women's Cup.[16] The United States made their tenth world cup after New Zealand defeated Australia in the final game of the 2024 Pacific Four Series.[17] In Asia, Japan qualified for their seventh World Cup after beating Kazakhstan in the second game of the 2024 Asia Rugby Women's Championship.[18] Fiji qualified as Oceania 1 after winning the 2024 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship.[19] [20] Brazil qualified for their debut World Cup after beating Colombia in the South American qualifying.[21]

In WXV, Australia, Italy, Scotland and Wales qualified for the World Cup as they will take part in WXV 2. They will be joined by the top two teams in WXV 3 who has not already qualified via regional competitions.

Qualified teams
RegionTeamQualification
method		Previous
Previous best resultWorld Rugby
Ranking
AfricaAfrica 14data-sort-value="10"Tenth place (2010, 2014)
AsiaAsia 16data-sort-value="9"Eighth place (1994)
EuropeHosts + Top 4 at 2021 RWC9data-sort-value="2"Champions (1994, 2014)
Top 4 at 2021 RWC9data-sort-value="5"Third place
Europe 17data-sort-value="7"Fourth place (2014)
WXV 5data-sort-value="9"Quarter final (2021)
WXV6data-sort-value="8"Fifth place (1994)
WXV 8data-sort-value="7"Fourth place (1994)
North AmericaTop 4 at 2021 RWC9data-sort-value="4"Runners-up (2014)
P4 19data-sort-value="3"Champions (1991)
OceaniaWXV7data-sort-value="6"Third place (2010)
Top 4 at 2021 RWC8data-sort-value="1"Champions
Oceania 11data-sort-value="11"Pool stage (2021)
South AmericaAmericas 10data-sort-value="12"Debut
Notes

Draw

The pool draw will take place in October 2024.[22]

Broadcasting

Notes and References

  1. Web site: England to host women's Rugby World Cup in 2025. 12 May 2022. South Wales Guardian. 12 May 2022. 14 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230914111509/https://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk/sport/national/20133816.england-host-womens-rugby-world-cup-2025/. live.
  2. Web site: Women's Rugby World Cup England 2025 confirms opening and closing venues . Sunderland City Council . 31 December 2023 . 25 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240525143630/https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/article/29810/Women-s-Rugby-World-Cup-England-2025-confirms-opening-and-closing-venues . live .
  3. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2025 set to break new ground as tournament expands to 16 teams ｜ Rugby World Cup 2021 . 6 October 2022 . Rugby World Cup . 6 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221006020025/https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2021/news/605873/rugby-world-cup-2025-set-to-break-new-ground-as-tournament-expands-to-16-teams . live .
  4. Web site: As it happened: New Zealand v England - Final Rugby World Cup 2021 . 17 November 2022 . Rugby World Cup . 12 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221112061647/https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2021/match/final?lang=en . live .
  5. Web site: World Rugby announces joint men's and women's Rugby World Cup host selection process World Rugby . 6 October 2022 . World Rugby . 6 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221006020025/https://www.world.rugby/news/579751?lang=en . live .
  6. News: RFU hopes to bid for women's 2025 World Cup . BBC Sport . 6 October 2022 . 14 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230914111512/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59006446 . live .
  7. Web site: World Rugby adopts partnership approach to Rugby World Cup host selection and confirms exclusive Preferred Candidate and Targeted Dialogue unions World Rugby . 6 October 2022 . World Rugby . 6 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221006020027/https://www.world.rugby/news/672650?lang=en . live .
  8. News: England to host 2025 women's World Cup . BBC Sport . 6 October 2022 . 6 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221006020025/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/61424053 . live .
  9. News: Rugby World Cup 2025: Eight host venues named for tournament in England . . 21 August 2023 . 22 August 2023 . 22 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230822004434/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/66576330 . live .
  10. News: World Rugby and RFU confirm host cities and venues with two years to go until Rugby World Cup 2025 . . 21 August 2023 . 22 August 2023 . 22 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230822004029/https://www.world.rugby/news/834606/world-rugby-and-rfu-confirm-host-cities-and-venues-with-two-years-to-go-until-womens-rugby-world-cup-2025 . live .
  11. Web site: Women's Rugby World Cup England 2025 confirms opening and closing venues . Twickenham Stadium . 11 December 2023 . 26 June 2024 . 1 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240301235626/https://www.twickenhamstadium.com/news/stadium/womens-rugby-world-cup-england-2025-confirms-opening-and-closing-venues . live .
  12. Web site: 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup: Ashton Gate to host semi-finals . . 25 June 2024 . 26 June 2024.
  13. Web site: New qualification pathway confirmed for Rugby World Cup 2025 Rugby World Cup . 6 October 2022 . Rugby World Cup . 6 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221006092826/https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/682540/new-qualification-pathway-confirmed-for-rugby-world-cup-2025 . live .
  14. Web site: All you need to know about the Women's Rugby World Cup England 2025 qualification pathway Rugby World Cup . . 28 April 2024 . 20 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240320134100/https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2025/qualification-pathway . live .
  15. Web site: O'Callaghan . Aoife . Ireland Secure Their Spot For 2025 World Cup After Memorable Belfast Victory . Balls.ie . 28 April 2024 . 27 April 2024 . 28 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240428002330/https://www.balls.ie/rugby/ireland-secure-their-spot-for-2025-world-cup-after-memorable-belfast-victory-596049 . live .
  16. Web site: Thomas . Martyn . South Africa secure return to 'big stage' of Women's Rugby World Cup . Rugby Pass . 25 May 2024 . 13 May 2024 . 15 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515234347/https://www.rugbypass.com/news/south-africa-secure-return-to-big-stage-of-womens-rugby-world-cup/ . live .
  17. Web site: Dean . Taylor . USA Women's Eagles secure Rugby World Cup 2025 qualification . USA Rugby . 27 May 2024 . 25 May 2024 . 27 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240527191906/https://eagles.rugby/news/usa-womens-eagles-secure-rugby-world-cup-2025-qualification-2024525 . live .
  18. Web site: Japan beat Kazakhstan to secure place at England 2025 . World Rugby . 27 May 2024 . 27 May 2024 . 27 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240527191906/https://www.world.rugby/news/932565/asia-rugby-womens-championship-2024-japan-kazakhstan-recap . live .
  19. Web site: 2 June 2024 . Fijiana XV Secures Direct Qualification to Rugby World Cup 2025 . 3 June 2024 . Oceania Rugby . 3 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240603195843/https://oceania.rugby/news/fijiana-xv-secures-direct-qualification-to-rugby-world-cup-2025-202462 . live .
  20. Web site: 3 June 2024 . History-making Fiji and Hong Kong China move up World Rugby Women's Rankings . 3 June 2024 . World Rugby . 3 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240603195839/https://www.world.rugby/news/934604?lang=en . live .
  21. Web site: History Making Brazil Qualify for First Rugby World Cup . Americas Rugby News . 3 July 2024 . 30 June 2024.
  22. Web site: First Women's Rugby World Cup England 2025 tickets to go on sale in September . Rugby World Cup 2025 England . 25 June 2024 . 25 June 2024.
  23. News: BBC Sport to show 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup. 22 August 2024. BBC. 22 August 2024.

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