Hosts England have been drawn with Australia, USA and Samoa for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
World No 1 side England will stage the tournament for the second time, with 16 nations participating in next year’s event – four more than the last Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Scotland and Wales have been drawn together in Group B, which also features Canada and Fiji, while Ireland will face defending champions New Zealand, plus Japan and Spain in Group C.
The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup takes place from August 22 to September 27.
England will be favourites for the tournament as they have been unbeaten since their dramatic defeat to New Zealand in the World Cup final in 2022, which was delayed by 12 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Red Roses won the recent WXV1 tournament with victory over Canada in their last match.
England won the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1994 and 2014, but have finished runners-up to New Zealand in the last two editions.
England have won the Women’s Rugby World Cup twice but lost to New Zealand last time out
Ireland will get the chance to face New Zealand again, having beaten the defending world champions in their opening WXV1 match in Vancouver last month.
France are top seeds in Pool D, where they will take on Italy, South Africa and World Cup debutants Brazil.
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 draw in full
- Group A: England, Australia, USA, Samoa.
- Group B: Canada, Scotland, Wales, Fiji.
- Group C: New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, Spain.
- Group D: France, Italy, South Africa, Brazil.
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 schedule
England will play in the opening game on August 22 at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, with their remaining two pool matches being hosted at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton and Brighton’s Amex Stadium.
The quarter-finals will be shared between Sandy Park and Ashton Gate, with the semi-finals at Ashton Gate a week before the final.
The final itself will take place at Twickenham on September 27.
World Rugby will confirm the full 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup match schedule next week.
