The RFU has confirmed they are aiming to submit a bid to host the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2025.
Since England last hosted the RWC in 2010 and won it in 2014, women’s rugby has grown exponentially with World Rugby stating the women’s game is the single biggest opportunity to grow the sport globally.
The Red Roses are the number one ranked team in the world and the RFU has grown female participation in England from 13,000 to 40,000 registered players in clubs, with a growing pipeline of 80,000 girls playing in schools, colleges and universities.
"Securing RWC 2025 would add to the impressive list of major sporting events that the UK has attracted since London 2012 reinforcing the UK’s international reputation as a leading major events’ destination and a global leader in promoting women’s sport," said RFU Chief Executive, Bill Sweeney.
"As well as providing great economic returns, hosting the tournament would help to further promote rugby as an inclusive sport and provide a springboard to narrow the gap between male and female participation."
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For the 2025 bid The RFU plans to adopt a multi-city and multi-region approach to delivering the tournament. This hosting model will facilitate great opportunities for people living in different parts of the country to attend the tournament, promoting rugby and enhancing participation in the sport nationwide.
A central theme to the bid will be to deliver a legacy programme in parallel to the tournament from 2022 to 2025 for growing the women's game across the country.
The legacy programme will focus on three key strands: Creating capacity through facility development and the recruitment of female coaches and referees, creating a multigenerational legacy through a call to arms for more young girls and University women to play, and for women who didn’t have the opportunity to play to become fans, and to support international development within the home unions.
The exciting backline Woodward wants England to pick during the Autumn:
#BACK-THREE:
- 15. Freddie Steward (Leicester TIgers)
- 14. Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons)
- 11. Louis Lynagh (Harlequins)
WOODWARD WROTE: "There is another very tight call at full back where Freddie Steward has size, presence and great assurance under the high ball while Max Malins has pace, guile and a try scorer's instinct.
"The compromise is to pick Malins on the wing but I'm not convinced he's a top-level winger. He could be a brilliant full back, though. My wings would have been Adam Radwan and Louis Lynagh — pace, hunger and skill — but alas Lynagh has disappeared from the squad despite his fine start to the season.
"Jonny May and Anthony Watson are on notice, only their best form will suffice from now on and neither is making waves."
#CENTRES:
- 13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
- 12. Many Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
WOODWARD WROTE: "If Smith gets the nod, Farrell must go on the bench. England need a fit Manu Tuilagi — or someone with his qualities — playing 12. England must find a 10-12-13 combination that is going to frighten the world.
"I don't think Smith and Farrell together will worry those teams who have kicked on since Japan 2019. Smith (or Farrell) at 10, Manu at 12 and Henry Slade at 13 is as good as anything out there — all playing in their best positions."
DID YOU KNOW? He was named Manusamoa, after the name of the Samoan national team, Manu Samoa, because his brother Freddie was selected for Samoa at the World Cup in 1991, the year Manu was born
#HALFBACKS:
- 10 Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
- 9. Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks)
Woodward wrote: "I've been beating the Smith drum for a long time and would have had him starting for England games long before this autumn.
"He's an exceptional, potentially once-in-a-generation talent capable of transforming the way England attack and bringing all of their enormous firepower to bear. In that respect he reminds me of Jason Robinson.
"He can be a game-changer for England, just as Jason's incredible attacking threat added so much when he came over from rugby league, winning 51 caps between 2001 and 2007.
"As a coach you say a prayer of thanks when such a talent comes along, they can lift the mood and ambition of an entire squad. Smith has that ability.
"England's opponents will be hoping they don't find a way of fully tapping into his talent and energy.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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