England welcome visitors from the United States to the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on Friday when the Women's Rugby World Cup gets underway there.
The competition will culminate with the final match at the Allianz Stadium on September 27.
PA News Agency has compiled a list of some of the key players to watch at this year's tournament.
Claudia Peña
The Spanish international has made an impressive debut in Women's Premier League Rugby for Harlequins. The 20-year-old midfielder joined the club from Barcelona at the start of the season and has scored eight points in 13 games.
Peña will be looking to build on the success of that remarkable club season with Spain, who are 13th in the world and face a tough group that includes New Zealand, Ireland and Japan.
Sicilia Tuipulotu
Tuipulotu returns to the Wales squad ahead of her second World Cup. The wing missed the Six Nations after treatment for a tendon behind her knee, but returned for Wales' 1-1 draw in Australia. World Cups are a family tradition for Tuipulotu, as her father, Sion, played in the men's tournaments in 1999 and 2007.
Braxton Sorensen-McGee
New Zealander Sorensen-McGee has quickly emerged as a rising star at just 18 years of age. The defensive lineman was superb in her debut season in Aupiki Super Rugby, scoring four tries and helping the Blues beat Matatu in the final.
She then made her Black Ferns debut against Australia on 10 May, where she made an instant impact, scoring two tries to earn her first World Cup call-up.
Caitlin Hulse
Another young rising star who is looking to make a splash at the World Cup is 18-year-old Australian defender Hulse. She made her Wallaroo Women's debut at 16, becoming one of the youngest players to achieve success for the New South Wales Waratas.
Holz set a record in May 2024 when she became Australia's youngest ever debutant – male or female – against the United States and now has 11 caps for the Wallaras.
Abby Doe
With 54 caps under his belt, Doe is looking to continue his strong season at his second World Cup.
The England winger will be a key part of a fearsome outside three that also includes Ellie Kildunn and Jess Breach when they open against the Americans on Friday. Dow enters the tournament on the back of a strong performance in the Six Nations, where she topped the try-scoring charts with six and sent England to the mat.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
