Women's Rugby World Cup: Round 1 - England kick off Pool stage with clash against USA - Ruck
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Women’s Rugby World Cup: Round 1 – England kick off Pool stage with clash against USA

19 August 2025
Tom Sansom

The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup bursts into life this Friday as hosts England launch the tournament in the North East. The Red Roses face the United States in the opening pool fixture, with Sunderland’s Stadium of Light providing the stage for the first action of the competition.

This latest edition arrives sooner than usual, with the previous World Cup pushed back a year due to the Covid pandemic. That tournament eventually took place in New Zealand in 2022, where the Black Ferns thrilled home crowds and lifted a record-extending sixth title, also their second in a row.

New Zealand are on the hunt for an unprecedented third Women’s Rugby World Cup title in a row, with England, France and Canada joining the Black Ferns amongst the favourites for all-new trophy. So, as the anticipation continues to build towards the opening round of the Women’s Rugby World Cup pool stages, we’ve pieced together a preview of all the action from Round One.

2025 WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP – POOL STAGES ROUND ONE

ENGLAND vs USA / AUSTRALIA vs SAMOA / SCOTLAND vs WALES / CANADA vs FIJI

FRANCE vs ITALY / IRELAND vs JAPAN / SOUTH AFRICA vs BRAZIL / NEW ZEALAND vs SPAIN

England vs USA — Friday 22 August, Stadium of Light, Sunderland, 19:30 BST

The curtain rises on the Women’s Rugby World Cup as England take on the USA in Sunderland, a clash laden with history and expectation upon the hosts. The Red Roses, World No. 1 since November 2020 and unbeaten since their narrow 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup Final loss, enter on a streak of dominance; four consecutive Women’s Six Nations titles plus back-to-back WXV1 trophies.

Their final warm-up was emphatic, a 40-6 win over France in Mont-de-Marsan, marking their 27th straight victory and 16th in succession over their cross-Channel rivals. Conversely, the USA remain dark horses. 1991 champions and twice runners-up, they’ve struggled of late, enduring a seven-match losing streak across the 2024 WXV and Pacific Four Series.

Their warm-up showcased conflicting signs: a morale-boosting 31-24 win over Fiji tempered by a heavy 42-10 loss to Canada. Led by social-media star Ilona Maher, they bring energy and flair, but England’s formidable cohesion and recent form make the Red Roses overwhelming favourites. We expect a solid win for England to kick start their competition, with the weight of a nation behind them.

Australia vs Samoa — Saturday 23 August, Salford Community Stadium, 12:00 BST

Pool A’s second fixture pits a seasoned Australia side against Samoa, in what should be a compelling early encounter. Australia finished strong in the warm-up series, most notably with a convincing 36-5 win over Wales, demonstrating fitness and forward control in their two-match series. With a blend of experience and emerging talent, the Wallaroos look balanced, though the absence of three-time Olympian Charlotte Caslick due to an ankle injury raises question marks around depth in attack.

Samoa, returning at full strength, may appear outmatched on paper but their physicality and island flair cannot be underestimated. Earlier in June, an “Australia A” side beat Samoa 50-22, not a full international but indicative of the gap the senior Samoan women’s side will try to bridge against the full-strength Wallaroos . Expect a competitive clash where Australia aim to dominate in structure and set plays, while Samoa hope to disrupt the rhythm with their explosive intensity.

Scotland vs Wales — Saturday 23 August, Salford Community Stadium, 14:45 BST

A fiery Six Nations rivalry reignites on the World Cup stage as Scotland and Wales meet in Pool B. Scotland’s World Cup warm-ups ended with a narrow 34-29 loss to Italy, and a 27-21 defeat to Ireland, yet both fixtures showed glimpses of attacking rhythm and depth despite the overall result. When Scotland and Wales last met in the 2025 Women’s Six Nations it was a 24-21 to the Scots, with another narrow nail-biter expected in the home of Sale Sharks.

Wales opened their World Cup preparations with a huge 21-12 away win over Australia, but followed up with a 36-5 reversal at the hands of the Wallaroos out in the land down under. The contest promises physicality and tactical nuance, as Scotland will look to impose their forward pack early, while Wales’ momentum and rivalry experience could shift gears late. The winner gains a vital psychological edge in Pool B’s fight for second place behind Canada, along with the bragging rights between the Celtic cousins.

Canada vs Fiji — Saturday 23 August, York Community Stadium, 17:30 BST

In a contest of structure versus flair, Canada confront Fiji with confidence. After back-to-back Summer wins over the Springbok Women, Canada closed their preparations with a stunning 42-10 win over the USA, which marked a record North American women’s rugby crowd of 11,453 fans. The Maple Leaves followed this up with a commanding 47-26 victory over Ireland, and head to England on a wave of momentum from across the pond.

Canada’s cohesion, attacking options, and defensive discipline make them firm favourites, with the enigmatic Sophie de Goede out to wreck havoc in Salford. Fiji, on the other hand, have had fewer warm-up opportunities but showed promise in a 31-10 win over Samoa, after losing out to the USA in Washington DC. If Canada can retain pressure and structure, they likely dominate, but Fiji’s explosive ball in hand and spontaneity could spark an upset.

France vs Italy — Saturday 23 August, Sandy Park, Exeter, 20:15 BST

There is a second clash between established Six Nations rivals, as France and Italy meet in the opening round in Pool D, where early dominance will be decisive for progression. France’s sole Women’s Rugby World Cup warm-up test was a crushing 40-6 defeat to England, which certainly raised the alarm bells for Les Blues head coaches Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz.

Italy, buoyed by momentum from their narrow win over Scotland and a resounding 33-15 triumph over Japan, look like a formidable outfit that is only growing with cohesion. Rightfully entering the tournament with confidence, the Azzurri reached the quarter-final in 2022, and will want to go one step further to confirm their qualification for Australia 2029.

France are of course the favourites, having once again finished runners-up in the Women’s Six Nations. The last meeting between the two sides brought about a 34-21 win for France, yet Italy will be out to upset the odds with an unexpected victory.

South Africa vs Brazil — Sunday 24 August, Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, 14:45 BST

South Africa take on Women’s Rugby World Cup debutants Brazil, in this historic fixture in Pool D. South Africa come into this match with one win in their past four World Cup warm-up outings, as they picked up a 41-24 win over a Black Ferns XV – in what was by no means a full strength New Zealand side.

South Africa endured two defeats to Canada and a further loss to the Black Ferns XV to round of their preparations, as the emerging Springbok Women look to break new ground at the Women’s World Cup. Brazil are South America’s first entrants to the Women’s Rugby World Cup, shaping their debut with a statement 22-0 win over the Netherlands in São Paulo.

Whilst Argentina are a big time player within the men’s side of the game, the same can’t be said just yet about Los Pumas’ women’s side, with the pride of Sudamerica handed to Brazil. Whilst there is no expectation on Brazil to progress to the knock-out stages, it’s a landmark occassion for the nation that has never ventured to rugby’s pinnacle stage before.

New Zealand vs Spain — Sunday 24 August, York Community Stadium, 17:30 BST

Defending champions New Zealand begin their title defense against a Spain side on the rise. New Zealand, though the team to beat, carry warning signs: a frustrating draw with Canada in the Pacific Four Series and a surprising WXV loss to Ireland suggest vulnerabilities. Spain, meanwhile, were on the wrong end of England’s 97-7 hammering but have benefited from six-month contracts boosting squad professionalism and depth.

While experience and power favour New Zealand, Spain’s improving cohesion and investment mean this contest could be competitive. The Black Ferns will look to assert dominance; Spain aim to raise the bar and prove their progress on the world stage. On paper, this points towards a one-sided win for the Black Ferns, however the magic of the World Cup could well strike in the opening round, with a fired up Spanish side set to leave it all on the line and make their mark upon the biggest stage.

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