Everything you need to know about the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
And, here at Greene King pubs, we’re ready for it all. As the home of women’s sport in the UK, we know just how much this tournament means to women across the country, and we’re ready to play our part and make this Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 the best one yet. So, why not watch some live rugby at the pub with us? You won’t want to miss this.
As 16 countries face off across England, including all four of our home nations, only one can be crowned the Women’s Rugby World Champion. Who’s got it in them? It’s all to play for.
When is the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025?
The tournament falls at the end of summer, from the 22nd of August until the 27th of September 2025. The opener is set for 7:30pm on Friday the 22nd, with a fierce face-off between hosts England and the U.S.A. The coveted final is due to be held on Saturday the 27th of September at 4pm, just after the runner-up match at 12:30pm on the same day.
If you can’t quite wait until then (it seems so far away), then make sure you tune in for the Red Roses’ warm-up matches against Spain on the 2nd of August and France on the 9th of August. These matches will be crucial, and it’ll be the last time we’ll see the girls in action before they take to the main stage!
Where are the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 venues?
After the success of the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup, this year, the Women's Rugby World Cup host is England – where the power of women will be felt across 8 of the most iconic rugby venues in the country. From north to south, the country will buzz with excitement as rugby royalty take to these stadiums:
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Ashton Gate, Bristol
Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium, Brighton and Hove
Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
Sandy Park Stadium, Exeter
Salford Community Stadium, Manchester
York Community Stadium, York
The Stadium of Light will play host to the opening match, while Twickenham Stadium will fare a classic goodbye to the tournament for the Women's Rugby World Cup Final. And, before the tournament kicks off, the Rugby World Cup trophy wil tour around England, letting rugby fans get up close and personal with the newest piece of silverware in the Women's Rugby calendar.
Who is playing in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025?
Competing to lift the coveted, brand-new trophy are 16 unstoppable sides. From the Yaras, who clinched their first-ever qualification following a defeat against Colombia last year, to seasoned Rugby World Cup teams like the Black Ferns and the Sakura Fifteen, we’re in for a summer of spectacular rugby.
The teams are split into pools for the first stage of the tournament. Those groups are as follows:
Pool A:
Australia, England, Samoa, U.S.A.
Pool B:
Canada, Fiji, Scotland, Wales
Pool C:
Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Spain
Pool D:
Brazil, France, Italy, South Africa
The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 matches and match schedule
The Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 fixtures have been long confirmed, with England's Red Roses set to face the U.S.A. on the 22nd of August. Here is a full match schedule for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025:
Week One:
22/08/2025 - 7:30pm: England v U.S.A
23/08/2025 - 12pm: Australia v Samoa
23/08/2025 - 2:45pm: Scotland v Wales
23/08/2025 - 5:30pm: Canada v Fiji
23/08/2025 - 8:15pm: France v Italy
24/08/2025 - 12pm: Ireland v Japan
24/08/2025 - 2:45pm: Brazil v South Africa
24/08/2025 - 5:30pm: New Zealand v Spain
Week Two:
30/08/2025 - 12pm: Canada v Wales
30/08/2025 - 2:45pm: Fiji v Scotland
30/08/2025 - 5pm: England v Samoa
30/08/2025 - 7:30pm: Australia v U.S.A
31/08/2025 - 12pm: Ireland v Spain
31/08/2025 - 2pm: Japan v New Zealand
31/08/2025 - 3:30pm: Italy v South Africa
31/08/2025 - 4:45pm: Brazil v France
Week Three:
06/09/2025 - 12pm: Canada v Scotland
06/09/2025 - 1:30pm: Samoa v U.S.A
06/09/2025 - 2:45pm: Fiji v Wales
06/09/2025 - 5pm: Australia v England
07/09/2025 - 12pm: Japan v Spain
07/09/2025 - 2pm: Brazil v Italy
07/09/2025 - 2:45pm: Ireland v New Zealand
07/09/2025 - 4:45pm: France v South Africa
Week Four:
13/09/2025 - 12:30pm: Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D
13/09/2025 - 4pm: Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A
14/09/2025 - 12:30pm: Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C
14/09/2025 - 4pm: Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B
Week Five:
19/09/2025 - 7pm: Winner Quarter-final 1 v Winner Quarter-final 2
20/09/2025 - 3:30pm: Winner Quarter-final 3 v Winner Quarter-final 4
Week Six:
27/09/2025 - 12:30pm: Runner-up Semi-final 1 v Runner-up Semi-final 2
27/09/2025 - 4pm: Winner Semi-final 1 v Winner Semi-final 2
What to expect from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025:
With all four home nations having qualified for the pool stage of the RWC 2025 here at Greene King Sport, we've been having a little think about how they might fare.
England are currently ranked world number one and (in our opinion) are the favourites to win this year's Rugby World Cup. We might be biased, but when a team looks this good, all attempts at neutrality go out the window. Plus, being two-time previous winners, England rugby fans know what winning feels like and will be supporting loud and proud throughout August and September.
Our friends across the water, Ireland, have had a strong year after moving up five places in the World Rankings this year. The Shamrocks could prove to be a real powerhouse in the tournament. They might've drawn a tough Women's Rugby World Cup pool, but we think they're fierce enough to make it through.
Scotland make their seventh Rugby World Cup appearance this year and their first back-to-back appearance in over ten years. Evidence of the girls' improvement, going from strength to strength, could see the team become a dark horse in this tournament. And with Scotland slowly pushing the women's game to the forefront of the country, the support they'll have this year is sure to be the strongest yet.
Historically, Wales have been the strongest rugby side in the UK, and this year, the side will be hoping for no less than the best. Back in 1991, Wales held the inaugural Women's Rugby World Cup. Having never won a Women's Rugby World Cup before, the girls' focus will be on getting their hands on that long-awaited trophy.
Overall, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales are looking strong, with the next generation ready and waiting to 'try' and bring it home this year.
Everything else you need to know about the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: partners, tickets and match officials
To find out everything else you need to know about the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, you can visit the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 website, where a variety of information about the teams, stadiums and more is available.
The official partners of the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025
The tournament is partnered by global organisations such as Mastercard and Asahi and has a special partnership with ChildFund Rugby, who aim to connect grassroots rugby across the world with the right channels and opportunities.
Tickets for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025
To grab your Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 tickets (and you'll want to be quick!), some tickets are still available through the official ticket sellers. Don't miss your chance to visit the host venues on matchday, because tickets are flying and could sell out soon! RWC Experiences are offering special hospitality packages too, to elevate what's already set to be an incredible experience.
The match officials at the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025
22 match officials representing 12 nations will referee the matches at the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025. This includes the four most-capped female officials: Sara Cox, Aimee Barrett-Theon, Hollie Davidson and Aurélie Groizeleau. A line-up of the best, to referee the best.
Where to watch the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
The fan zone to rival all fan zones: your local Greene King Sport pub, where we'll be showing all of the action as it plays out on BBC Sport. As the days grow shorter and the summer sun fades away, our pubs are the place to be every Saturday and Sunday. And sometimes Friday, too. When there's a match on.
From our incredible teams, serving just what you like, to our incredible food menus, full of all your favourite pub classics, you'll never step a foot wrong when you 'scrum' down to your local Greene King Sport pub and watch live rugby with us. Didn't manage to get Women's Rugby World Cup tickets? No problem, we're here to save the day.
And, we show rugby action all year round, too! From the spring Six Nations to the Autumn Nations, with tours and World Cups in-between, Greene King Sport pubs are the ultimate clubhouse for watching live rugby.