The 10th edition of the Women's Rugby World Cup kicks off in Sunderland on August 22 and ends in Twickenham on September 27. England will be pinning their hopes on home grounds to be the deciding factor against reigning champions New Zealand and help the Red Roses secure the title.
Image: Will home conditions be an advantage for the Red Roses as they bid to win the 2025 World Cup in England?
The Red Roses will be playing in a five-week competition on their home soil, where they will be looking to realise their long-standing ambitions. Two-time title winners and finalists in eight of the nine tournaments, England will be hoping to use the crowd support to overcome the dominance of the New Zealand team.
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The world-leading side's first step towards their goal will be their debut against the United States in Sunderland on August 22. The team that has won the last seven Six Nations enters the tournament as the main contenders.
Meanwhile, the Black Ferns, two-time title defenders, are ready to challenge, having won five of their six world championships, including successes at the expense of England.
Tournament arenas
Eight venues across the country will host group stage and knockout stage matches, with the final taking place at the iconic Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, which previously hosted the 1991 and 2015 men's finals.
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Capacity – 82,000
Matches – Final and Bronze Final
Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Capacity – 49,000
Matches – Opening Ceremony
American Express Arena, Brighton
Capacity – 31,876
Matches – Group Stage
Aston Gate, Bristol
Capacity – 26,462
Matches – Quarterfinals and semifinals
Sandy Park, Exeter
Capacity – 15,600
Matches – Group stage and quarter-finals
Franklins Gardens, Northampton
Capacity – 15,249
Matches – Group Meetings
Salford Community, Manchester
Capacity – 11,404
Matches – Group Stage
York Community Stadium, York
Capacity – 8500
Matches – Group Games
Pictured: The iconic Allianz Stadium at Twickenham, the venue for the final.
Groups and system of implementation
16 participants are divided into four groups.
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
After three rounds, the leaders and second-placed teams of the groups advance to the playoff stage.
Match calendar
Group stage
Pool A
22.08: England – USA – Sunderland, 19:30
23.08: Australia – Samoa – Salford, 12:00
30/08: England – Samoa – Northampton, 17:00
30.08: USA – Australia – York, 19:30
06.09: USA – Samoa – York, 13:30
06.09: England – Australia – Brighton, 17:00
Pool B
23.08: Scotland – Wales – Salford, 14:45
23.08: Canada – Fiji – York, 17:30
30.08: Canada – Wales – Salford, 12:00
30.08: Scotland – Fiji – Salford, 14:45
06.09: Canada – Scotland – Exeter, 12:00
06.09: Wales v Fiji v Exeter, 14:45
Group C
24.08: Ireland – Japan – Northampton, 12:00
24.08: New Zealand – Spain – York, 17:30
31/08: Ireland – Spain – Northampton, 12:00
31.08: New Zealand – Japan – Exeter, 14:00
07.09: Japan – Spain – York, 12:00
07.09: New Zealand – Ireland – Brighton, 14:45
Group D
23.08: France – Italy – Exeter, 20:15
24.08: South Africa – Brazil – Northampton, 14:45
31.08: Italy – South Africa – York, 15:30
31.08: France – Brazil – Exeter, 16:45
09/07: Italy – Brazil – Northampton, 14:00
07.09: France – South Africa – Northampton, 16:45
In the photo: The updated cup awaits its owner.
Playoffs
The group stage will be followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and deciders.
With luck, England could avoid meeting New Zealand and Canada before the final.
Quarter finals
13.09: Group C Winner vs Group D Runners-up – Exeter, 13:00
13.09: Group B Winner vs Group A Runners-up – Bristol, 16:00
14.09: Group D Winner vs Group C Runners-up – Exeter, 13:00
14.09: Group A Winner vs Group B Runners-up – Bristol, 16:00
Semi-finals
19.09: QF1 Winner vs QF2 Winner – Bristol, 19:00
20.09: QF3 Winner vs QF4 Winner – Bristol, 15:30
Match for third place
27.09: Losing semi-finalists v Twickenham, 12:30
The final
27/09: Semi-final winners – Twickenham, 16:00
History of victories
Pictured: Six-time champions New Zealand are ready to defend their title.
Of the nine tournaments held, New Zealanders won six, the English won twice, and the first winner was the United States in 1991.
1991 – USA
1994 – England
1998 – New Zealand
2002 – New Zealand
2006 – New Zealand
2010 — New Zealand
2014 – England
2017 — New Zealand
2021 – New Zealand
Composition of “Red Roses”
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Forwards: Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 63 games), Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 66 games), Sarah Byrne (Bristol Bears, 71 games), Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 56 games), Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 2 games), May Campbell (Saracens, 3 games), Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 21 games), Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 13 games), Amy Cockayne (Sale Sharks, 83 games), Maddie Fenaunatti (Exeter Chiefs, 15 games), Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 24 games), Lilly Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 2 games), Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 21), Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 75), Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury 40), Marley Packer (Saracens 110), Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks 22), Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears 74)
Defenders: Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 40), Jess Breach (Saracens, 45), Abbie Dow (Unattached, 52), Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 57), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 29), Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 80), Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 25), Ellie Kildunn (Harlequins, 52), Claudia Moloney-McDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 35), Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 31), Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 39), Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 118), Jade Shackels (Gloucester-Hartpury, 2), Emma Singh (Gloucester-Hartpury, 8)
Sourse: skysports.com
