2025 Women's Rugby World Cup Preview - Bigger & More Spectacular.

The 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup: A Historic Tournament Set to Break Records

The 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup (WRWC) promises to be a landmark moment in the history of women's rugby. With England playing host from 22 August culminating in the final on 27 September.  The competition will feature a record 16 teams for the first time, building on the momentum from a surge in global interest in women’s rugby. From star players and betting favourites to stadium guides and ticketing advice, here's everything you need to know about the tournament that everyone will be talking about, including which TV channels to search for.

A Brief History of the Women's Rugby World Cup

The WRWC began in 1991, hosted in Wales and won by the USA. Since then, the competition has evolved significantly.  Squads have developed, teams have become more professional creating greater competition and more countries are participating. This is a sport and competition on the way up:

Most successful team: New Zealand, with 6 titles (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2021)

Other winners: England (1994, 2014), USA (1991)

Past host nations: Wales (1991), Scotland (1994), the Netherlands (1998), Spain (2002), Canada (2006), England (2010), France (2014), Ireland (2017), New Zealand (2021)

Why is Women's Rugby Growing so Quickly: 

The women's game has exploded in recent years:

Global registered female players rose 33.9% to over 320,000.

The 2022 Women's Six Nations saw record crowds with over 100,000 in attendance.

The 2021 WRWC final in Auckland drew over 42,500, a record for women's rugby at the time.

Over 300,000 tickets have already been sold for WRWC 2025.

This makes the 2025 tournament the most anticipated women's rugby event in history.

So Why has the game Exploded: What’s Different to the Men's Game?

Scrums & Contact: Women’s scrums are just as technical but typically lower in force and speed, prioritising safety.

Game Pace: The women's game can feel more open and less structured, often leading to dynamic play.

Global Growth: While men's rugby has a longer tradition, women's rugby has grown faster in percentage terms in the last decade.

Visibility: Men's World Cups draw over 1 billion viewers; women’s 2025 edition is projected to break 100 million.

Women’s rugby increasingly offers the same technical skill and drama, but with unique, tactical pacing and different standout players.

Pools and Predictions: Who Will Advance?

The tournament's 16 teams are divided into four pools:

Pool A	Pool B	Pool C	Pool D
England	Canada	New Zealand	France
Australia	Scotland	Ireland	Italy
USA	Wales	Japan	South Africa
Samoa	Fiji	Spain	Brazil

Predicted Pool Winners:

Pool A: England, followed by Australia

Pool B: Canada, with Scotland posing a challenge

Pool C: New Zealand, strong chance for Ireland as runner-up

Pool D: France leads, Italy could upset South Africa

Where to Buy WRWC 2025 Tickets

Tickets can be purchased directly from the official Rugby World Cup website. https://tickets.rugbyworldcup.com/ 

Resale and hospitality packages are also available from:

Ticketmaster UK

Viagogo

EnglandRugbyTravel

Accommodation: Hotels Near Stadiums

London (Twickenham)

The Lensbury Resort (4*)

Richmond Hill Hotel (4*)

Manchester (Etihad Campus)

Hyatt Regency Manchester

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Piccadilly

Exeter (Sandy Park)

The Devon Hotel

Hotel du Vin Exeter

Use Booking.com or Expedia to find nearby accommodations.

Betting Odds: Who Are the Favourites?

According to OddsChecker:

Team	Odds to Win
New Zealand	5/2
England	3/1
France	7/2
Canada	10/1
Australia	12/1

New Zealand are slight favourites due to their unmatched experience, but England's home advantage and recent form make them strong contenders.

Star Players to Watch

lie Kildunne (England) - A game-breaker with speed and flair, she was named Player of the 2024 Six Nations.

Jorja Miller (New Zealand) - HSBC SVNS Player of the Year 2025, known for her dynamic play and strong defence.

Ilona Maher (USA) - Charismatic and powerful, Maher blends power with off-field influence, even winning an ESPY.

Morgane Bourgeois (France) - Clinical with the boot and sharp in defence, she scored 32 points in the 2024 Six Nations.

Fixtures, Venues, and Kick-Off Times

Date	Fixture	Venue	Kick-Off (BST)
22 Aug	England vs USA	Sunderland	19:00
24 Aug	Australia vs Samoa	York	14:00
24 Aug	Canada vs Fiji	Northampton	16:30
30 Aug	England vs Australia	Brighton	20:00
31 Aug	NZ vs Japan	Exeter	14:00
6 Sep	France vs Brazil	Manchester	16:00
13 Sep	QF1	Exeter	18:00
14 Sep	QF2	Bristol	15:00
19 Sep	SF1	Bristol	19:30
20 Sep	SF2	Manchester	17:00
27 Sep	Final	Twickenham	20:00

Final Word: A Tournament Worth Watching

Whether you're backing England to lift the trophy at Twickenham or simply want to witness history, the WRWC 2025 offers elite sport, growing global visibility and unique opportunities to engage with rugby in new cities.

To book tickets, plan your travel or place your bets, check out the linked resources and secure your spot for one of 2025's biggest sporting events.

Official WRWC Rugby Ball

Looking for something to commemorate the competition, or have a family member or friend with a birthday? Monster Sporting Gifts will personalise the official WRWC ball and have it in your hands before the competition kicks off. Check it out Here