The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup began on 22 August and the record-breaking tournament has surpassed all expectations. There were 375,000 tickets sold before the tournament even kicked off, a number more than double the total attendance from WRWC 2021 in New Zealand. The tournament is on course to become the biggest Women’s Rugby World Cup in history, not just in scale but in impact too and has, no doubt, been an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
The Red Roses kicked off their home tournament in style with Ellie Kildunne in sparkling form as they overpowered the USA with a 69-7 victory at the Stadium of Light.
The American superstar Ilona Maher tries to whip up the crowd as she heads back to the changing room after warming up. Her teammate, the scrum-half Olivia Ortiz, makes a pass.
England’s Jess Breach and Ellie Kildunne throw back flags and hats they have signed on their lap of honour, while the England centre Meg Jones tries on a hat she has just signed, Ilona Maher with a white rose given to her tucked into her shorts, poses for pictures with fans on a personal lap of honour.
Australia made light work of Samoa with a flawless performance in Salford, setting a record Wallaroos Women’s World Cup winning margin with their 73-0 victory.
The Australia wing Maya Stewart is tackled by the Samoa full-back Karla Wright-Akeli (left) and wing Drenna Falaniko (top), the Samoa captain, Sui Pauaraisa, wins a lineout.
Australia’s Cecilia Smith celebrates after scoring her side’s eighth try, the Samoa centre Keilamarita Pouri-Lane writes a message in a book for a disabled supporter after the match, the Samoa flanker Sinead Ryder signs a ball for a fan.
A young Scotland fan, with hat and sunglasses, waits for the teams to come out, a young Welsh fan is introduced to a Scottish bagpiper.
Francesca McGhie bagged a hat-trick as Scotland run in six tries to demolish Wales in a 38-8 victory.
Francesca McGhie evades the flying tackle from Jasmine Joyce-Butchers of Wales before going on to score Scotland’s first try (above), Georgia Evans of Wales, wearing a pink ribbon in her hair, takes the ball into a multiple tackle after coming on as a substitute.
The Scotland captain, Rachel Malcolm, seems in pain as she shows off one of the innovative new mouthguards that can measure and signal a potential concussion.
Leia Brebner-Holden of Scotland celebrates after she scores a try (above), the dejected replacement Wales prop Sisilia Tuipulotu is consoled by teammate Abbie Fleming after the final whistle meant a heavy Welsh defeat.
A clinical display from England meant they routed Samoa with 92-3 victory, which included 14 tries and saw the hosts qualify for the quarter-finals.
Meg Jones of England celebrates after scoring a try against Samoa (above), Maddie Feaunati, whose father played for Samoa, goes over for another England try.
An easy 62-19 victory over Japan for the Black Ferns included a record breaking performance from Portia Woodman-Wickliffe who scored her 50th try in 30 Tests.
France crushed Brazil 84-5 to seal their quarter-final spot but history was made by the tournament debutants as they collected their first World Cup try.
Six second-half tries saw the Black Ferns see off a spirited South Africa to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup with a 46-17 victory.
Braxton Sorensen-McGee is congratulated by Stacey Waaka after scoring a try for the Black Ferns, Nadine Roos, the South Africa scrum-half, wins the ball at a whole team lineout, the South African attack with an all-team driving maul.
The South Africa 40-year-old captain, Nolusindiso Booi, is carried off the field by her team after the final whistle of their quarter-final defeat to New Zealand.
England scored six tries against spirited but outmatched opponents to set up a semi-final against France. The Red Roses’ 40-8 victory meant that they broke their own world record with their 31st win in a row.
Canada scored five tries in a dominant display to end the Black Ferns’ title defence and book their place in the final with a 34-19 victory.
Strength from the bench and magic from Ellie Kildunne take England to a final showdown against Canada courtesy of a 35-17 victory over France.
Though there was also a healthy number of France fans at Ashton Gate, including one who was waiting for the team bus holding a picture of a frog with vampire teeth, relating to the banning of flanker Axelle Berthoumieu for biting in France’s quarter-final win over Ireland.
Red Roses fans welcome the England team as they walk from the team bus into the stadium (above), young England fans draped in St George’s flags take their seats, a message on a banner made by an England fan sits on the floor in the stands.
A determined looking England captain, Zoe Aldcroft, gathers her team together in a huddle straight after the national anthems (above), Abbie Ward of England catches at an attacking lineout near the French tryline.
The touch judge tries to intervene in an argument as Ellie Kildunne of England puts her finger to her lips to quieten down France’s Marine Ménager as tempers flare (above), the England No 8 Alex Matthews grabs hold of the shorts of teammate Maud Muir as they push forward on an attacking rolling maul while France’s Teani Feleu pushes the other way.
Ellie Kildunne celebrates by playing the drums after England’s victory, then hugging her mother, Alison, the England lock Abbie Ward celebrates victory with her two-year-old daughter Hallie.
A mother and daughter start crying as Jess Breach of England hands over her autographed boots, then takes a selfie with a group of Red Roses fans, England fans show off their banner as they celebrate their team’s victory.
