Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025: Guide to Teams, Odds, and How to Watch

What is the Women’s Rugby World Cup?

First held in 1991, the Women’s Rugby World Cup is the premier international competition in women’s rugby union. Held every four years, the tournament has been dominated by two nations: New Zealand, with six titles, and England, with three.

The 2025 edition marks a significant step forward for the sport. The expansion to 16 teams and record-breaking ticket sales of over 300,000 highlight the massive growth in popularity of women’s rugby worldwide. The tournament is also being officially rebranded from the “Rugby World Cup” to the “Women’s Rugby World Cup” to promote gender equality.

Tournament Format and Key Venues

The tournament begins with a pool stage. The 16 teams are divided into four pools of four teams each. After each team plays three pool matches, the top two teams from each pool will advance to the knockout stage, which consists of quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final.

Matches will be held in eight cities across England. Key venues include:

• Stadium of Light, Sunderland: Will host the opening match between England and the USA.
• Twickenham Stadium, London: The iconic 82,000-seat stadium will host the final and the bronze final.
• Sandy Park, Exeter: Will host several key pool matches and a quarterfinal.

Teams and Pools

The 16 participating nations were drawn into four pools. The top-ranked teams—England, Canada, New Zealand, and France—were each placed into a different pool.

Pool A:

• England
• South Africa
• Italy
• Ireland

Pool B:

• Australia
• Canada
• Scotland
• Wales

Pool C:

• New Zealand
• France
• South Korea
• Colombia

Pool D:

• USA
• Fiji
• Japan
• Brazil

Betting Odds and Favorites

The Women’s Rugby World Cup is a growing market for sports betting. While it is a niche sport in the US, some major sportsbooks like BetMGM are offering futures odds on the outright winner of the tournament.

2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup Winner Odds (from BetMGM):

Favorites and Predictions:

• England (-225): The host nation and defending champions are the heavy favorites. The -225 odds imply a 69.2% probability of winning the tournament. With the world’s number one ranking and home-field advantage, the Red Roses are a strong pick to win back-to-back titles.
• New Zealand (+275): The Black Ferns are the biggest threat to England. As six-time champions, they have a proven track record of success and will be determined to reclaim the trophy after losing the 2022 final.
• The Contenders (+650 and higher): Canada and France are the best of the rest. Both are strong teams capable of making a deep run, but they are considered significant underdogs compared to the top two.
• USA (+10000): The United States is a massive long shot to win the tournament. Their odds reflect the tough challenge they face, starting with the opening match against England.

Key Matches to Watch

The tournament kicks off on August 22 with a high-profile opening match between England and the USA at the Stadium of Light. The final will take place at Twickenham on September 27.

Other key pool stage matches include:

• New Zealand vs. France: A massive clash between two of the world’s top teams.
• Australia vs. Canada: A competitive matchup that could decide the winner of Pool B.

How to Watch the Tournament

• In the UK: BBC Sport will provide live coverage of all matches across its platforms, including BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
• In the US: Broadcast details have not yet been confirmed. However, it is likely that a streaming service like RugbyPass TV will offer live coverage. Check the official Rugby World Cup website for updates closer to the event.

How to Get Tickets

Over 300,000 tickets have already been sold for the tournament, but tickets are still available. Prices for the opening match start at just £10 for adults. Tickets and hospitality packages can be purchased from the official tournament website: rugbyworldcup.com/2025/tickets.