England’s path to a possible home Rugby World Cup triumph has been mapped out with the hosts placed in a pool alongside Australia, USA, and Samoa for next summer’s tournament.
The Red Roses, runaway leaders at the top of the world rankings and on a 20-match winning streak, are clear favourites to go one better than they did in New Zealand in 2022.
If the top-seeded team wins each pool, England could only meet world number two Canada or defending champions New Zealand in the final.
Ireland, who claimed a famous upset win over New Zealand in WXV earlier this month, are grouped with the Black Ferns, Japan and Spain after failing to qualify for the previous tournament.
“Rugby – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
Hosts England face Australia, USA & Samoa at 2025 World Cup”
England face a potential quarter-final against the runners-up from the pool containing Scotland and Wales – drawn together for the second straight tournament – Canada and Fiji.
France are England’s likeliest last-four opponents and they, who along with the Red Roses, Canada and New Zealand were top seeds, are in a group with Italy, South Africa and Brazil.
The draw was conducted on BBC’s The One Show by England’s 2014 World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi.
The tournament begins on Friday 22 August with England in action at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light and culminates in the final at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on 27 September.
Rugby World Cup 2025 draws in full
Pool A: England, Australia, USA, Samoa
Pool B: Canada, Scotland, Wales, Fiji
Pool C: New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, Spain
Pool D: France, Italy, South Africa, Brazil
England aim to take final step
In 2010, the only previous occasion on which England has hosted the tournament, the final was held across the road from Allianz Stadium at the Stoop.
It was a familiar result. New Zealand beat England – a result that has concluded five of the past six Rugby World Cups.
England went into the last World Cup as world number ones and on a record-breaking run of Test wins, but the Black Ferns overhauled the visitors’ 14-point lead after England wing Lydia Thompson had been sent off.
Former All Blacks coach John Mitchell replaced Simon Middleton in the wake of the defeat and has overseen a more expansive, ambitious style.
After England beat Canada to retain the WXV title earlier this month, Mitchell warned that despite his team’s apparent dominance, they could take nothing for granted as more unions invest in their women’s teams.
“The gap is closing in terms of the way people are playing and being coached,” Mitchell said.
“All the other teams have really good coaching groups, they are all getting better. For us our challenge is to get better.
“It is also about how special it is going to be to play a World Cup at home, something that we can impact on other people for the rest of our lives.”
BBC
