Wales’s hopes of reaching the knock-out stages of the Women’s World Cup are over after they were brushed aside 42-0 by heavily-fancied Canada at Salford Community Stadium.
Wales’s hopes of reaching the knock-out stages of the Women’s World Cup are over after they were brushed aside 42-0 by heavily-fancied Canada at Salford Community Stadium.
A 38-8 loss to Scotland in last weekend’s curtain-raiser left Wales needing to beat Canada, ranked second in the world behind England, to realistically keep their quarter-final hopes alive.
They dominated territory and possession early on but went 28-0 down just after the half-hour as McKinley Hunt’s two tries and one each for Alysha Corrigan and Asia Hogan-Rochester put Canada on top.
Taylor Perry and Brittany Kassil touched down after the break, when Georgia Evans was yellow-carded and Sophie de Goede converted all six tries as Canada laid down a marker for their title aspirations.
Wales’s elimination was confirmed when Scotland beat Fiji 29-15 later on in Pool B on Saturday.
Which teams are competing?
England qualified as hosts; Canada, France and New Zealand, by reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2022; South Africa, by winning the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup; Ireland, after finishing third in the 2024 Women’s Six Nations; United States, by beating Australia in the Pacific Four series; Fiji, who won the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship; Japan,who finished top of the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship; and Brazil,who beat Colombia to win the Sudamerica play-off.
The final six teams were determined at the 2024 edition of WXV, the three-tier global competition. Australia won WXV2 to book their place while Scotland, Italy and Wales also qualified via that tournament. Spain and Samoa ensured they will take part by finishing first and second respectively in WXV3. Spain last competed in the World Cup in 2017, while Samoa have not taken part since 2014.
The Women's Rugby World Cup is back and bigger than ever 🌎
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 12, 2024
Introducing the 16 teams heading to #RWC2025 👇 pic.twitter.com/fzk9NNg3Ty
What are the four pools?
Hosts England have drawn arguably the toughest group, with both Australia and United States joining them in Pool A with Samoa. The Wallaroos are ranked sixth in the world, while the US are 10th.
Scotland and Wales have been paired together in Pool B, in what could be a tantalising match-up, particularly in the battle to make the quarter-finals. Canada, ranked second in the world, are the favourites to win that group, which also features Fiji.
Ireland, who stunned world champions New Zealand at WXV last year, have been pitted against the Black Ferns in Pool C, as well as Japan and Spain.
France, Italy, South Africa and Brazil make up Pool D. The top two teams from each group progress to the knockouts: quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
Which cities are hosting the tournament?
Eight cities across England will stage the tournament. In a measure of the Rugby Football Union’s ambition to spread the game around the country, York, Manchester, Bristol, Exeter and Northampton will all host matches.
Four of the venues are already home to English rugby teams, including Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate, Northampton Saints’ Franklin’s Gardens, Exeter Chiefs’ Sandy Park and Sale Sharks at the Salford Community Stadium (commonly known as AJ Bell Stadium).
After opening their World Cup campaign in Sunderland, the Red Roses will play their remaining two pool matches in Northampton and Brighton.
Ashton Gate will share the quarter-finals with Exeter’s Sandy Park, which hosted the Premiership Women’s Rugby final last year. The final will be played at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, a commercial deal between Allianz and Rugby World Cup allowing the branded stadium name to be used during the tournament.
Latest news
Record viewing figures for Women’s Rugby World Cup
England’s crushing victory over the United States in the Women’s Rugby World Cup opener on Friday drew in a peak audience of 2.4m on BBC One and 600,000 on iPlayer.
The weekend saw 2.1m streams overall for the tournament across BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.
In total, 4.6m viewers tuned in to the live coverage over the weekend.
The opening weekend viewing figure surpassed the entire reach of the 2021 World Cup, which was played in 2022 and attracted 3.7m viewers overall, including 1.8m for the final.
England’s World Cup squad
Forwards: Zoe Aldcroft, Lark Atkin-Davies, Sarah Bern, Hannah Botterman, Abi Burton, May Campbell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Amy Cokayne, Maddie Feaunati, Rosie Galligan, Lilli Ives Campion, Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews, Maud Muir, Marlie Packer, Morwenna Talling, Abbie Ward.
Backs: Holly Aitchison, Jess Breach, Abby Dow, Zoe Harrison, Tatyana Heard, Natasha Hunt, Megan Jones, Ellie Kildunne, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Lucy Packer, Helena Rowland, Emily Scarratt, Jade Shekells, Emma Sing.
NOW READ: Katy Daley-Mclean’s player-by-player verdict
From the grassroots game to the world stage 🌹
— Red Roses (@RedRosesRugby) July 24, 2025
Your #RedRoses are ready for #RWC2025.@O2 | #WearTheRosepic.twitter.com/LKivm2Mhi6
Ireland’s World Cup squad
Forwards Claire Boles, Beth Buttimer, Ruth Campbell, Eimear Corri Fallon, Linda Djougang, Brittany Hogan, Neve Jones, Ivana Kiripati, Siobhán McCarthy, Sadhbh McGrath, Edel McMahon, Clíodhna Moloney MacDonald, Sam Monaghan, Grace Moore, Niamh O’Dowd, Ellena Perry, Fiona Tuite, Aoife Wafer.
Backs Enya Breen, Amee Leigh Costigan, Aoife Dalton, Méabh Deely, Stacey Flood, Nicole Fowley, Eve Higgins, Emily Lane, Anna McGann, Nancy McGillivray, Dannah O’Brien, Béibhinn Parsons, Aoibheann Reilly, Molly Scuffil-McCabe.
Scotland’s World Cup squad
Forwards Leah Bartlett, Becky Boyd, Sarah Bonar, Elliann Clarke, Lisa Cockburn, Eva Donaldson, Evie Gallagher, Adelle Ferrie, Jade Konkel, Rachel Malcolm, Elis Martin, Rachel McLachlan, Molly Poolman, Lana Skeldon, Alex Stewart, Emma Wassell, Molly Wright, Anne Young.
Backs Leia Brebner-Holden, Beth Blacklock, Rhea Clarke, Coreen Grant, Rhona Lloyd, Caity Mattinson, Francesca McGhie, Helen Nelson, Hannah Ramsay, Chloe Rollie, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Hannah Walker, Evie Wills.
Wales’ World Cup squad
Forwards Katherine Baverstock, Maisie Davies, Gwenllian Pyrs, Donna Rose, Jenni Scoble, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Kelsey Jones, Carys Phillips, Molly Reardon, Alex Callender, Gwen Crabb, Georgia Evans, Abbie Fleming, Bryonie King, Bethan Lewis, Alaw Pyrs, Tilly Vucaj, Kate Williams, Branwen Metcalfe.
Backs Keira Bevan, Meg Davies, Seren Lockwood, Lleucu George, Kayleigh Powell, Carys Cox, Hannah Dallavalle, Kerin Lake, Courtney Keight, Jasmine Joyce, Nel Metcalfe, Lisa Neumann, Catherine Richards.
Fixtures
Here is the confirmed fixture list in full, right the way up to the final on September 27.
All kick-off times are BST.
Pool phase
Friday, August 22
England 69 US 7 (Pool A)
Saturday, August 23
Australia 73 Samoa 0 (Pool A)
Scotland 38 Wales 8 (Pool B)
Canada 65 Fiji 7 (Pool B)
France 24 Italy 0 (Pool D)
Sunday, August 24
Ireland 42 Japan 14 (Pool C)
South Africa 66 Brazil 6 (Pool D)
New Zealand 54 Spain 8 (Pool C)
Saturday, August 30
Canada 42 Wales 0 (Pool B)
Scotland 29 Fiji 15 (Pool B)
England v Samoa – Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, 5pm (Pool A), BBC Two
US v Australia – Community Stadium, York, 7.30pm (Pool A), BBC iPlayer
Sunday, August 31
Ireland v Spain – Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, 12 noon (Pool C), BBC Two
New Zealand v Japan – Sandy Park, Exeter, 2pm (Pool C), BBC iPlayer
Italy v South Africa – Community Stadium, York, 3.30pm (Pool D), BBC iPlayer
France v Brazil – Sandy Park, Exeter, 4.45pm (Pool D), BBC iPlayer
Saturday, September 6
Canada v Scotland – Sandy Park, Exeter, 12 noon (Pool B), BBC Two
US v Samoa – Community Stadium, York, 1.30pm (Pool A), BBC iPlayer
Wales v Fiji – Sandy Park, Exeter, 2.45pm ( Pool B), BBC Two
England v Australia – Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, 5pm (Pool A), BBC Two
Sunday, September 7
Japan v Spain – Community Stadium, York, 12pm (Pool C), BBC iPlayer
Italy v Brazil – Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, 2pm ( Pool D), BBC iPlayer
New Zealand v Ireland – Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, 2.45pm ( Pool C), BBC Two
France v South Africa – Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, 4.45pm (Pool D), BBC iPlayer
Quarter-finals
Saturday, September 13
Quarter-final one: Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D – Sandy Park, Exeter, 1pm, BBC Two
Quarter-final two: Winner Pool B v Runner-up pool A – Ashton Gate, Bristol, 4pm, BBC Two
Sunday, September 14
Quarter-final three: Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C – Sandy Park, Exeter, 1pm, BBC Two
Quarter-final four: Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B – Ashton Gate, Bristol, 4pm, BBC Two
Semi-finals
Friday, September 19
Semi-final one: Winner quarter-final one v Winner quarter-final two – Ashton Gate, Bristol, 7pm, BBC Two
Saturday, September 20
Semi-final two: Winner quarter-final three v Winner quarter-final four – Ashton Gate, Bristol, 3.30pm, BBC One
Bronze final
Saturday, September 27
Allianz Stadium, London, 12.30pm, BBC Two
Final
Saturday, September 27
Allianz Stadium, London, 4pm, BBC One
World Cup tickets: Prices and how to get them
More than 400,000 tickets will available for the tournament. Ticket prices will range from £5 to £95, with more than 60 per cent of tickets under £25. More than 300,000 tickets have already been sold for the tournament and those still available are on the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 website.
Child tickets for England’s tournament opener were available for as little as £5, while a family of four could pay £30.
Top tickets for the final at Allianz Stadium, which the Rugby Football Union is hoping to sell out, are priced at £95, with lower-priced options available for adults starting at £30.
How can I watch the World Cup?
BBC Sport will broadcast exclusive coverage of the tournament across linear channels, with every match also available to watch live on BBC iPlayer and the Sport website and app.
Live audio commentary will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra.
Fans will be able to listen to 5 Live coverage on BBC Sounds, DAB radio and the BBC Sport website.
The exclusive coverage deal means there will also be content across BBC Scotland, BBC Wales and BBC Northern Ireland.
Previous winners
2022 – New Zealand (moved from 2021 amid the Covid pandemic)
2017 – New Zealand
2014 – England
2010 – New Zealand
2006 – New Zealand
2002 – New Zealand
1998 – New Zealand
1994 – England
1991 – United States
Category: General Sports
