2025 RWC Recap: Week 1 - Wins for England and Australia starts battle for Pool A dominance

We are off to the races, with the opening weekend of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in the books following a tremendous first round. England got their home-hosted tournament up and running, with a thunderous win over USA in the Stadium of Light. History was made in Sunderland, as a record attendance of 42,723 fans set an all-time best for a Women's Rugby World Cup match.

The action continued throughout the weekend, as Australia got their campaign up and running with a brutal dismantling of Samoa. The Wallaroos' win saw them leapfrog England to hit the summit of Pool A, in a statement win over the Pacific Islanders. Pool B commenced with Scotland bagging the Celtic bragging rights over Wales, before tournament dark horses Canada secured a bonus-point win over Fiji.

Italy and France then clashed to reignited their respective Six Nations rivalry, with Les Blues triumphant over the Azzurri down in Exeter's Sandy Park. Ireland then battled past Japan, whilst South Africa laid the hammer down on tournament debutants Brazil, for a couple of one-sided wins. The Black Ferns closed out the opening weekend with a landslide win over Spain, to get their title defense up and running with a serious display of attacking intent.

CANADA 65 - 7 FIJI / FRANCE 24 - 0 ITALY / IRELAND 42 - 14 JAPAN

England launched their Women’s Rugby World Cup quest with a thunderous statement, dismantling the USA 69–7 at the Stadium of Light. From the first whistle, the Red Roses blended their trademark forward muscle with sharp, crowd-pleasing invention in attack.

Sadia Kabeya’s eighth-minute try set the tone, powering over at the tail of a rolling maul to notch the tournament’s very first score. Hannah Botterman soon followed after a sublime cross-field kick, as Meg Jones sparked chaos upon the Eagles’ defence. The USA briefly hit back through Erica Jarell-Searcy, who sliced through England’s line with a dazzling solo run, but Alev Kelter’s yellow card swung momentum firmly back to the hosts.

What followed was a masterclass. Ellie Kildunne, fresh off her World Player of the Year accolade, scored twice and orchestrated several more scores, including a breathtaking assist for Jess Breach. Abby Dow and Amy Cokayne added to the tally, while replacements Lark Atkin-Davies and Maud Muir ensured the scoring never slowed. Zoe Harrison’s calm boot kept England’s dominance ticking along the scoreboard.

By full-time, England had romped to eleven tries and a statement victory that will echo loudly across the tournament. The Red Roses looked every inch the favourites, with a dominant display issuing a statement to the rest of the world's elite.

ENGLAND: 69

TRIES: 11 (Sadia Kabeya, Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir, Ellie Kildunne, Abby Dow, Amy Cokayne, Jess Breach, Lark Atkin-Davies)

CONVERSIONS: 7 (Zoe Harrison 6, Emma Sing)

USA: 7

TRIES: 1 (Erica Jarrell-Searcy)

CONVERSIONS: 1 (McKenzie Hawkins)

YELLOW CARD: 1 (Alev Kelter)

Australia roared into the Women’s Rugby World Cup with a history-making 73–0 demolition of Samoa at Salford Community Stadium, for their biggest ever World Cup victory. The Wallaroos were relentless from the outset, their pack charging over within two minutes to set the tone for a merciless first half.

By the 20-minute mark, the scoreboard was already spiralling out of control, as Desiree Miller stole the show with a blistering hat-trick before half-time. Her pace and finishing ability shredded the Samoan defence, while Emily Chancellor and Liz Patu’s forward power ensured the Wallaroos’ set-piece dominance was rewarded. With Samoa reduced to 14 players after Mele Mamea’s yellow, the Aussies ruthlessly exploited every gap. At 45–0 by the break, the result was beyond doubt.

The second half was more measured but equally emphatic. Samantha Wood’s boot kept the scoreboard ticking, as tries from Cecilia Smith and a late double from Adiana Talakai underlined Australia’s ruthless edge. Even when Samoa dug in defensively, the Wallaroos’ cohesion and flair proved unstoppable. Samoa’s misery deepened with a late red card for Salale, while Australia closed the game with a statement performance that lifts them above England at the top of Pool A.

AUSTRALIA: 72

TRIES: 11 (Eva Amosa, Desiree Miller 3, Maya Halse 2, Emily Chancellor, Liz Karpani, Cecilia Smith, Adiana Talakai 2)

CONVERSIONS: 9 (Samantha Wood 6, Arabella Cramer 3)

YELLOW CARD: 1 (Mele Mamea 21’)

RED CARD: 1 (Salale 73’)

Scotland stormed into their 2025 Rugby World Cup campaign with a statement-making 38–8 triumph over Wales, in what is their biggest-ever win against their Celtic rivals. Francesca McGhie was the star of the show, lighting up Salford with a sensational hat-trick as Bryan Easson’s side bagged their opening win with a fine demolition job of their Six Nations rivals.

It took just 60 seconds for the Scots to make their mark. Helen Nelson’s incisive break sliced open the Welsh defence, before McGhie finished clinically on the left wing. Wales briefly rallied through Alex Callender’s try from a rolling maul, but Scotland swiftly reasserted control. McGhie grabbed her second after Lisa Thomson’s bruising midfield carry, and scrum-half Leia Brebner-Holden darted under the posts to make it 17–8 at half-time.

The second half belonged entirely to Scotland. McGhie completed her hat-trick minutes after the restart, before Wales’ discipline unraveled with Gwen Crabb shown yellow for a dangerous tackle. Evie Gallagher battered her way over to extend the lead, and Emma Orr sealed the historic win with a late score. For a side long battling for consistency, this was a watershed performance for Scotland.

SCOTLAND: 38

TRIES: 6 (Francesca McGhie 3, Leia Brebner-Holden, Evie Gallagher, Emma Orr)

CONVERSIONS: 4 (Helen Nelson 4)

WALES: 8

TRIES: 1 (Alex Callender)

PENALTIES: 1 (Keira Bevan)

YELLOW CARDS: 1 (Gwen Crabb)

Canada launched their 2025 Rugby World Cup campaign in emphatic style, crushing Fiji 65–7 in York. While the second seeds were already expected to dominate, few could have predicted the staggering second-half spectacle delivered by full-back Julia Schell, who ran in six tries in just 23 minutes.

Canada’s intent was clear from the start, as captain Sophie de Goede powered over inside six minutes. Gillian Boag, Caroline Crossley, and Alysha Corrigan soon followed, with de Goede also converting four of the first-half scores to give her side a comfortable 24–0 advantage at the break. Fiji, outmuscled but never lacking spirit, did produce a moment to savour after the restart when Kolora Lomani finished a slick team move to bring the York crowd to its feet.

That try seemed only to ignite Schell, who became the second player in Women’s World Cup history to score six tries in a match, an astonishing haul that combined blistering pace, fearless support lines, and clinical finishing. Karen Paquin added a late try to complete Canada’s tally, capping a record-breaking performance that underlined their title credentials. If the Wallaroos and Red Roses are the headline contenders from Pool A, Canada have now thrown down their own personal gauntlet from Pool B.

CANADA: 65

TRIES: 11 (Sophie de Goede, Gillian Boag, Caroline Crossley, Alysha Corrigan, Julia Schell 6, Karen Paquin)

CONVERSIONS: 5 (Sophie de Goede 4, Brianna Tessier)

FIJI: 7

TRIES: 1 (Kolora Lomani)

CONVERSIONS: 1 (Vueti)

France opened their Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign with a gritty 24–0 win over Italy at Sandy Park, a contest that stood in stark contrast to the end-to-end try-fests elsewhere in the tournament’s opening weekend. In a match defined by heavy collisions, errors, and defensive resilience, Les Bleues ultimately wore down their Six Nations rivals with set-piece power and patience.

Joanna Grisez finally broke the deadlock after 27 bruising minutes, finishing on the overlap and brushing off two defenders to cross in the corner. But Italy’s scramble defence, led by the tireless Alyssa D’Inca and Sofia Stefan, frustrated the French for much of the first half. A potential second score was chalked off by the TMO just before the break, leaving Morgane Bourgeois to slot a penalty for a hard-earned 10–0 lead.

The second half saw France’s pack take control. Assia Khalfaoui powered through to extend the margin, before Charlotte Escudero bulldozed over after a clever chip-and-chase from Carla Arbez cracked the Italian line. Bourgeois kept the scoreboard ticking with three conversions. While not the champagne rugby France are famed for, this disciplined shutout was historic in its own right: the first time France have kept Italy scoreless in a World Cup clash.

TRIES: 3 (Joanna Grisez, Assia Khalfaoui, Charlotte Escudero)

CONVERSIONS: 3 (Morgane Bourgeois)

PENALTIES: 1 (Morgane Bourgeois)

After eight long years away from the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Ireland announced their return with a commanding 42–14 victory over Japan at Franklin’s Gardens. With six different try scorers and a flawless kicking display from fly-half Dannah O’Brien, this was the kind of all-court performance that suggests Ireland could be dark horses in Pool C.

The fast start they had craved materialised immediately. Amee-Leigh Costigan dotted down inside five minutes, Neve Jones muscled over from a rolling maul, and electric winger Beibhinn Parsons lit up the afternoon with a trademark sprint to the corner. Fiona Tuite added the bonus-point score before half-time, with O’Brien converting all four to make it 28–7 at the break.

Japan fought valiantly, striking through Haruka Hirotsu and later Masami Kawamura after patient phase play, but Ireland’s defensive organisation and clinical counter-attack kept them at arm’s length. The decisive moment came in the 53rd minute when Eve Higgins plucked a loose ball on her own line and sprinted the length of the field for Ireland’s fifth try, a cruel swing after Japan had looked certain to score. Replacement Enya Breen crossed late to round off a six-try haul. Ruthless and clinical — Ireland are back on the biggest stage, and they mean business.

IRELAND: 42

TRIES: 6 (Amee-Leigh Costigan, Neve Jones, Beibhinn Parsons, Fiona Tuite, Eve Higgins, Enya Breen)

CONVERSIONS: 6 (Dannah O’Brien)

JAPAN: 14

TRIES: 2 (Haruka Hirotsu, Masami Kawamura)

CONVERSIONS: 2 (Ayasa Otsuka)

South Africa delivered a statement performance in Pool B, storming past debutants Brazil 66–6 at Franklin’s Gardens. While the scoreboard reflected the gulf in experience, the story of the match was the bravery, resilience, and pioneering spirit of the Brazilian side, who became the first South American team to contest a Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The Springboks were clinical from the start, with Ayanda Malinga and Aseza Hele carving through the inexperienced defence. Hele’s brutal power saw her cross for a memorable hat-trick, while Ngwevu, Roos, Makua, and Janse van Rensburg added further scores as South Africa built an unassailable lead. Fly-half Dolf was flawless off the tee, landing eight conversions to cap a commanding display.

Brazil’s points came via fly-half Raquel Kochhann, whose two penalty kicks symbolised more than just a scoreboard contribution. As Brazil only had 16 previous full XVs Tests to their name, the Furies’ courage and defensive tenacity, including 168 tackles in the game, made an impression on fans and rivals alike. Their World Cup debut is already inspiring a new generation of players back home, proving that Brazilian rugby has a future beyond sevens. While South Africa proved too strong on the day, Brazil left the pitch as heroes of spirit in yellow and blue.

SOUTH AFRICA: 66

TRIES: 9 (Roos, Aseza Hele 3, Ayanda Malinga 2, Janse van Rensburg 2, Ngwevu, Makua)

CONVERSIONS: 8 (Dolf)

BRAZIL: 6

TRIES: 0

CONVERSIONS: 0

PENALTIES: 2 (Raquel Kochhann)

Defending champions New Zealand launched their bid for a record-extending seventh Women’s Rugby World Cup with a 54–8 win over Spain at York Community Stadium. While the scoreboard reflected their dominance, the story of the day was resilience: the Black Ferns finished the match with just 13 players due to injuries, yet still ran in eight tries to secure a commanding Pool C statement.

Jorja Miller shone brightest in the first half, scoring two dazzling tries in her World Cup 15s debut, following a decorated sevens background. Number eight Liana Mikaele-Tu’u also impressed, powering over for New Zealand’s third try as Spain kept the game competitive early. Amalia Argudo’s penalty kept Spain in contention at 21–3 at half-time, but the champions turned on the afterburners after the break.

Ayesha Leti-I’iga scored twice, Georgia Ponsonby added a maul finish, and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe — returning from international retirement, notched her 21st World Cup try. Centre Theresa Setefano capped a remarkable display in a depleted squad. Spain deservedly crossed late through Ines Antolinez, but New Zealand’s ruthless edge even when two players down, underlined why they remain the team to beat.

NEW ZEALAND: 54

TRIES: 8 (Jorja Miller 2, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Ayesha Leti-I’iga 2, Georgia Ponsonby, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Theresa Setefano)

CONVERSIONS: 7 (Holmes)

SPAIN: 8

TRIES: 1 (Ines Antolinez)

CONVERSIONS: 1 (Argudo)

PENALTIES: 1 (Argudo)