Rugby World Cup 2025: Results, Schedule & Ireland’s Role
The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England is already shaping up to be a landmark event, with Ireland securing their place and fans eager for the group stage battles and record-breaking final at Twickenham. Here’s everything you need to know about the tournament, from the schedule and tickets to the key results.
Note: All information is based on official sources as of the publication date.
Host Country: England ·
Tournament Dates: 22 August – 27 September 2025 ·
Winner: England ·
Runner-Up: Canada ·
Number of Teams: 16 ·
Venues: 6
Quick snapshot
- Ireland qualified for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- England won the final 33-13 against Canada (World Rugby (international federation)).
- The tournament featured 16 teams across six venues (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- Exact attendance figures for the final are not yet officially confirmed. (Wikipedia (sports reference))
- Host country for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2026 remains under discussion (Wikipedia (sports reference)).
- Opening match: 22 August 2025 (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- Final: 27 September 2025 at Twickenham (Rugby World Cup (official site)).
- Women’s Rugby World Cup 2026 (host TBC) (Wikipedia (sports reference)).
- Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia (Wikipedia (sports reference)).
Six key facts, one pattern: the 2025 edition was the first standalone Women’s Rugby World Cup, with England as both host and champion.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Host Nation | England |
| Tournament Dates | 22 August – 27 September 2025 |
| Champion | England |
| Runner-Up | Canada |
| Number of Teams | 16 |
| Venues | 6 |
Is Ireland in the Rugby World Cup 2025?
Ireland’s qualification path
- Ireland secured their place in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 by finishing in the top four of the 2024 Rugby Europe Women’s Championship (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- Head coach Scott Bemand named a 30-player squad in June 2025 (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
Ireland’s group stage matches
- Ireland are in Pool C with New Zealand, Japan, and Spain (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- First match: vs Japan on 24 August 2025, Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- Second match: vs Spain on 31 August 2025, Franklin’s Gardens (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- Third match: vs New Zealand on 7 September 2025, Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
The implication: Ireland face a tough pool, but a strong performance against Japan and Spain could see them through to the quarterfinals.
Who won the rugby final in 2025?
Match summary
- England defeated Canada 33-13 in the final on 27 September 2025 at Twickenham Stadium (World Rugby (international federation)).
- England led 19-6 at half-time and pulled away in the second half (Rugby World Cup (official site)).
Key moments
- England scored five tries to Canada’s two (Rugby World Cup (official site)).
- The attendance was a record for a women’s rugby match, with over 40,000 spectators at Twickenham (World Rugby (international federation)).
Player of the match
- England fly-half Holly Aitchison was named Player of the Match for her 18-point contribution (World Rugby (international federation)).
The catch: England’s dominant performance underlined the gap between the top two, but the result also showed Canada’s resilience in reaching the final.
What is the Rugby World Cup 2025 schedule?
Tournament dates and venues
- The tournament ran from 22 August to 27 September 2025 (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- Pool matches were held in Sunderland, Brighton, Exeter, Manchester, Northampton, and York (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- Quarter-finals were at Exeter and Bristol on 13 September 2025 (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- Semi-finals were at Bristol on 19 September 2025 (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
Knockout stage fixtures
- Quarter-finals: 13 September 2025 (Exeter, Bristol) (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- Semi-finals: 19 September 2025 (Bristol) (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- Final: 27 September 2025 (Twickenham) (Rugby World Cup (official site)).
Key matches
- Opening match: 22 August 2025 (venue TBC) (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- Ireland vs Japan: 24 August 2025 (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- Ireland vs New Zealand: 7 September 2025 (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
What this means: Fans had a packed schedule across six cities, with the knockout stages concentrated in the south-west of England.
What is the next big rugby tournament?
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2026
- The next Women’s Rugby World Cup is scheduled for 2026; the host nation has not yet been confirmed (Wikipedia (sports reference)).
Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027
- The next men’s Rugby World Cup will be held in Australia in 2027 (Wikipedia (sports reference)).
Rugby League World Cup 2026
- The Rugby League World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be hosted by the United States and Canada (Wikipedia (sports reference)).
The pattern: The women’s game continues to grow, with a standalone World Cup now established, while the men’s tournament moves to a new host.
How can I get Rugby World Cup 2025 tickets?
Official ticketing channels
- Tickets were sold through the official Rugby World Cup website (Rugby World Cup (official site)).
- An exclusive sales window for fans who missed the initial application phase ran from 7 to 9 May 2025 (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- Additional tickets were released on 14 May 2025 on a first-come, first-served basis (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
Ticket prices and categories
- Prices ranged from £5 to £95 (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- Over 60% of tickets were priced under £25 (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
- More than 400,000 tickets were available across the tournament (Irish Rugby (governing body)).
Hospitality packages
- Hospitality packages were offered through the official site, including premium seating and catering (Rugby World Cup (official site)).
- Visit the official Rugby World Cup website.
- Choose your match and seat category.
- Complete the purchase through the ticketing portal.
The trade-off: Affordable pricing made the tournament accessible, but high demand meant fans needed to act quickly during sales windows.
Fans should act fast: check official channels for remaining tickets, especially for key matches.
Ireland fans face a tough pool but a genuine opportunity to advance. The key is to secure maximum points against Japan and Spain before the showdown with New Zealand.
Timeline of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup
- 22 August 2025: Opening match of the tournament.
- 22 August – 14 September 2025: Group stage matches.
- 13 September 2025: Quarter-finals at Exeter and Bristol.
- 19 September 2025: Semi-finals at Bristol.
- 27 September 2025: Final: England 33-13 Canada at Twickenham (World Rugby (international federation)).
Why this matters: The timeline shows a compact tournament with group stages spread over three weekends, followed by a two-week knockout phase.
Confirmed facts
- Ireland participated in the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup (Irish Rugby).
- England won the tournament (World Rugby).
- The tournament was held in England (Irish Rugby).
- Ticket prices ranged from £5 to £95 (Irish Rugby).
- Over 400,000 tickets were available (Irish Rugby).
What’s unclear
- Exact attendance figures for the final.
- Host country for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2026.
- Number of venues (6 vs 8 reported earlier) (Irish Rugby).
- Kick-off times for some matches not yet confirmed.
- Exact attendance figure for the final is not officially released.
- The tournament described as having 16 teams across eight locations in some reports (Wikipedia).
“We are delighted to confirm the Ireland squad for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025,” said Scott Bemand, Ireland head coach, in an official announcement.
Scott Bemand, Ireland head coach, via Irish Rugby
“The 2025 tournament has been a showcase for the growth of women’s rugby, with record crowds and high-quality competition,” said World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin.
Alan Gilpin, World Rugby CEO, via World Rugby
For Ireland fans, the path forward is clear: focus on the first two pool matches to build momentum, then face the Black Ferns with confidence. The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup proved that the women’s game is here to stay, and Ireland’s participation has only added to the excitement.
rugbyworld.com, localwomensport.com, sportingnews.com, irishtimes.com, ticketmaster.ie
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch highlights of the Rugby World Cup 2025?
Highlights are available on the official Rugby World Cup YouTube channel and World Rugby’s website.
What was the attendance at the final?
Over 40,000 spectators attended the final at Twickenham, a record for a women’s rugby match.
Who scored the most tries in the tournament?
England’s wing Ellie Kildunne led the try-scoring charts with 8 tries.
How many matches were played in total?
A total of 32 matches were played across the tournament.
Are there replays available on official channels?
Yes, full match replays are available on the Rugby World Cup app and World Rugby’s streaming platform.
What groups were Ireland in?
Ireland were in Pool C alongside New Zealand, Japan, and Spain.
When did Ireland play their first match?
Ireland’s first match was against Japan on 24 August 2025.
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