The Draw took place live on The One Show, one of the BBC’s most-watched programmes, in the heart of broadcasting house in London. BBC Sport’s Gabby Logan, England’s Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 winner Maggie Alphonsi and presenter Roman Kemp drew the teams into the four pools, independently overseen by PWC.
With the fixtures being revealed on Tuesday, 22 October via the tournament website, the countdown is well and truly on for fans planning their Women's Rugby World Cup experience.
Prior to the draw, the 16 qualified teams were placed into four bands based on the World Rugby Women’s Rankings as of 14 October with the top four teams in Band 1 (England, Canada, New Zealand and France) prepopulated into the first position of each pool.
Hosts and current number one team in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings, England, have been drawn against Australia, USA, and Samoa in Pool A.
Pool B sees world’s number two Canada set to face Scotland, Wales and Fiji.
Reigning champions New Zealand are joined by Ireland, Japan and Spain in Pool C.
Rugby World Cup 2021 bronze medalists France are drawn in Pool D alongside Italy, South Africa and Brazil.
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 pools
- 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
Teams will play each of their pool opponents over three weekends with the two best teams on competition points in each pool qualifying for the quarter-finals and the knockout phase.
With 95 per cent of people in England within two hours of one of the eight iconic match venues and 60 per cent of tickets under £25, England 2025 will be the most accessible Women’s Rugby World Cup ever, uniting fans for what is set to be an generational moment for the sport.
Tickets have sold in record time and volume during the first sale phase with more than 60,000 tickets acquired by fans for England’s opening match at Sunderland and the final matches at Twickenham. England will play their remaining two pool matches in Northampton and Brighton and Hove and fans will have the opportunity to apply for tickets for all matches from 11:00 GMT on Tuesday, 5 November until 11:00 GMT on Tuesday, 19 November. Ballots will be used for any price categories which are oversubscribed. Fans can register to be the first to hear about ticket news here.
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Managing Director, Sarah Massey, said: “With anticipation building amongst fans and teams for next year’s showpiece event, today marks an important step forward to what will be an unmissable tournament.
“Next week will see the tournament celebrate another exciting milestone, as we unveil the match schedule, allowing fans, host locations and teams to start preparing their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 experience in earnest.”