GOING for GLORY

England will host the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup – the 10th edition of the quadrennial competition

GOING GLORY for

This year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup (WRWC) will be the largest in history. Sixteen nations, up from the 12 seen at the previous tournament in 2021, will compete for the title across eight venues between 22 August and 27 September 2025.

Transformative impact

This year’s tournament is the second women’s Rugby Union World Cup to be hosted by England, after the 2010 edition. World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin has predicted Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 will be a “breakthrough moment” for the game as the countdown to the showpiece tournament continues apace.

Gilpin believes that, with a bigger platform than ever before, the event could have a transformative impact.

“It’s an event that we’re incredibly excited about for the sport of rugby,” Gilpin said. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to really inspire a new set of fans.

“It’s not just a breakthrough moment for the women’s game. It’s definitely a breakthrough moment for rugby, an opportunity to present a different face of rugby next year.

“A younger, more inclusive, more vibrant and definitely more family-oriented audience for our sport. An event that will move the dial probably in many ways that the men’s editions of Rugby World Cup either can’t or doesn’t currently do for us.”

Inspiring the next generation

While the excitement continues to build ahead of the tournament, the legacy programmes are already in full swing. World Rugby hopes to use the tournament as a platform for both creating new audiences, as well as fresh leaders.

As part of the former. World Rugby launched the WRWC 2025 Content Creators Programme, offering an opportunity for content creators from around the world to contribute to a record breaking and unmissable tournament. Building on the successful content creator programme from Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand, the initiative focuses on developing the next generation of talent within social and content, offering practical experience while creating a network for creators to share ideas and experiences.

The programme also aims to elevate the global profile of women’s rugby by embedding content creators throughout the tournament. These creators will document the players’ and teams’ journeys, from training sessions to match days, while also gaining access to exclusive behind-the-scenes content off the field.

Meanwhile, as part of inspiring new leaders for the women’s game, ChildFund Rugby staged a UK ‘Grassroots to Global’ forum bringing together female leaders from the local rugby community. Held in more than 25 countries, each Forum supports the women’s game at local, national and international levels, with a view to driving change and increasing the number of women involved in the sport - both on and off the field.

The UK Forum took place at Novocastrians RFC, near Newcastle upon Tyne, and was attended by 50 young, inspirational female leaders from the local rugby community. Players, coaches, match officials, first aiders, team managers, event organisers, and club administrators all came together to share experiences, strengthen networks and inspire change.

As part of the two-day Forum, participants exchanged ideas and created action plans for enhancing gender inclusion within their rugby communities. This included identifying the key drivers and barriers facing women in rugby leadership.

Driving change on and off the field starts with building strong networks

A highlight of the event was the attendance and support of England’s most capped rugby player of all time, Sarah Hunter CBE. She shared the wealth of knowledge gained during her transition from Rugby World Cup winning player and captain, to Assistant Coach for the Red Roses.

World Rugby’s Chief of Women’s Rugby, Sally Horrox, said: “With Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 fast approaching, it’s inspiring to see the impact that Childfund Rugby’s Grassroots to Global Forums are already having, by bringing together such passionate female leaders from the rugby community.

“Driving change on and off the field starts with building strong networks and creating clear pathways for women in coaching and leadership roles.”

2025 WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP VENUES

BRIGHTON

Home to Premier League football team Brighton and Hove Albion, the stadium was the venue for one of the most famous upsets in international rugby history, when Japan beat South Africa at Rugby World Cup 2015.

EXETER

The home of Exeter Chiefs will be one of the busiest venues during the WRWC, hosting five pool games and two quarter finals.

BRISTOL

The stadium is the home to Premiership rugby club Bristol Bears and second-tier Bristol City Football Club. It will act as the venue for both WRWC semi-finals in 2025, as well as two quarter finals.

LONDON

The home of rugby union will be the venue for the conclusion of this year’s World Cup, with both the bronze medal game and final taking place on 27 September 2025.

MANCHESTER

The smallest venue of the tournament has been the home of Sale Sharks since 2012. It will host four games during WRWC, including the Scotland-Wales game on 23 August 2025.

NORTHAMPTON

Franklin’s Gardens has hosted rugby games for nearly 150 years, making it one of the most iconic venues in the sport. The home of Northampton Saints will host six games during WRWC, including’s England’s pool game against Samoa on 30 August.

SUNDERLAND

The second-largest venue used in this year’s competition, Stadium of Light will only host one game – but it is an important one as it will see England play USA in the competition’s first game.

YORK

York’s Community Stadium opened in 2020 and has already played host to matches at the 2021 Women’s Rugby League World Cup. During WRWC, it will host six games.

Capacity: 31,800

Sandy Park

Capacity: 15,000

Capacity: 26,387

Capacity: 82,000

Capacity: 11,404

Capacity: 15,148

Stadium of Light

Capacity: 48,707

Capacity: 8,510