The Women’s Rugby World Cup (RWC) heads to England in 2025 for its landmark 10th edition, bringing together the best teams in the world for a month-long rugby carnival from August 22 to September 27.
Defending champions New Zealand arrive with a legacy of dominance, having won the tournament a record six times. The Black Ferns have had a particular liking for England, defeating the Red Roses in five RWC finals: in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017 and 2022.
The 16 participating teams have been divided into four pools of four: Pool A (USA, Australia, England, Samoa), Pool B (Canada, Scotland, Wales, Fiji), Pool C (New Zealand, Japan, Ireland, Spain), and Pool D (France, Italy, South Africa, Brazil). Notably, two of the three past champions USA and England, have been drawn in the same pool.
The hosts England, however, enter as clear favourites: not only have they won 57 of the last 58 tests and boast home advantage but crucially, they've beaten perennial winners New Zealand in each of their three meetings since the 2022 RWC final by a combined score of 106-55.
The Sporting News looks at the key fixture details and how to follow the matches.
Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 live streams, TV channels in Australia
Free-to-air channel: 9Gem
Live stream: Stan Sport, 9Now
The Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 matches will largely be shown on free-to-air channel via 9Gem and can be streamed on Stan Sport.
Every one of the Wallaroos’ matches in the tournament will be FREE to watch on the 9Now streaming service and 9Network TV channels, along with the final.
Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 full schedule
(All times in AEST)
Saturday, August 23
- England vs. United States at Sunderland (4:30 a.m.)
Saturday, August 23
- Australia vs. Samoa at Salford (9:00 p.m.)
- Scotland vs. Wales at Salford (11:45 p.m.)
Sunday, August 24
- Canada vs. Fiji at York (2:30 a.m.)
- France vs. Italy at Exeter (5:15 a.m.)
- Ireland vs. Japan at Northampton (9:00 p.m.)
- South Africa vs. Brazil at Northampton (11:45 p.m.)
Monday, August 25
- New Zealand vs. Spain at York (2:30 a.m.)
Saturday, August 30
- Canada vs. Wales at Salford (9:00 p.m.)
- Scotland vs. Fiji at Salford (11:45 p.m.)
Sunday, August 31
- England vs. Samoa at Northampton (2:00 a.m.)
- United States vs. Australia at York (4:30 a.m.)
- Ireland vs. Spain at Northampton (9:00 p.m.)
- New Zealand vs. Japan at Exeter (11:00 p.m.)
Monday, September 1
- Italy vs. South Africa at York (12:30 a.m.)
- France vs. Brazil at Exeter (1:45 a.m.)
Saturday, September 6
- United States vs. Samoa at York (10:30 a.m.)
- Canada vs. Scotland at Exeter (9:00 p.m.)
- Wales vs. Fiji at Exeter (11:45 p.m.)
Sunday, September 7
- England vs. Australia at Brighton (2:00 a.m.)
- Japan vs. Spain at York (9:00 p.m.)
- New Zealand vs. Ireland at Brighton (11:45 p.m.)
- Italy vs. Brazil at Northampton (11:00 p.m.)
Monday, September 8
- France vs. South Africa at Northampton (1:45 a.m.)