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.
MORE: Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 tickets: Guide to pricing, schedule, groups for all tournament matches
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 UK
The Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 matches will largely be shown on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.
Fans in the United Kingdom can stream all the action from the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 live and free on BBC iPlayer.
Matches involving England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland will also be shown on TV channels BBC One or BBC Two.
Viewers in Ireland can catch the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 coverage on RTÉ and TG4 Player.
Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Full schedule
(All times in UK local)
Friday, August 22
- England vs. United States at Sunderland (7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, August 23
- Australia vs. Samoa at Salford (12:00 p.m.)
- Scotland vs. Wales at Salford (2:45 p.m.)
- Canada vs. Fiji at York (5:30 p.m.)
- France vs. Italy at Exeter (8:15 p.m.)
Sunday, August 24
- Ireland vs. Japan at Northampton (12:00 p.m.)
- South Africa vs. Brazil at Northampton (2:45 p.m.)
- New Zealand vs. Spain at York (5:30 p.m.)
Saturday, August 30
- Canada vs. Wales at Salford (12:00 p.m.)
- Scotland vs. Fiji at Salford (2:45 p.m.)
- England vs. Samoa at Northampton (5:00 p.m.)
- United States vs. Australia at York (5:30 p.m.)
Sunday, August 31
- Ireland vs. Spain at Northampton (12:00 p.m.)
- New Zealand vs. Japan at Exeter (2:00 p.m.)
- Italy vs. South Africa at York (3:30 p.m.)
- France vs. Brazil at Exeter (4:45 p.m.)
Saturday, September 6
- United States vs. Samoa at York (1:30 p.m.)
- Canada vs. Scotland at Exeter (12:00 p.m.)
- Wales vs. Fiji at Exeter (2:45 p.m.)
- England vs. Australia at Brighton (5:00 p.m.)
Sunday, September 7
- Japan vs. Spain at York (12:00 p.m.)
- New Zealand vs. Ireland at Brighton (2:45 p.m.)
- Italy vs. Brazil at Northampton (2:00 p.m.)
- France vs. South Africa at Northampton (4:45 p.m.)