The streets outside Twickenham on opening night were buzzing. Food vendors shouted over the noise, the smell of fried onions and beer drifted across lines of fans waiting to get inside. The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup had finally kicked off. England welcomed the world, and Asia kept its eyes on Japan, the region’s only team in the tournament.
Teams Participating in the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup
Sixteen nations filled the pools this year. Some were expected, England, New Zealand, France, the kind of names that always shape a tournament. Others arrived with less history but plenty of drive.
Brazil, for example, making its first World Cup appearance. South Africa is looking for redemption after years of struggles. Japan stepped in as Asia’s representative, with all the weight that comes with being the lone team from the region.
Pool A
- England
- Australia
- United States
- Samoa
Pool B
- Canada
- Scotland
- Wales
- Fiji
Pool C
- New Zealand
- Ireland
- Japan
- Spain
Pool D
- France
- Italy
- South Africa
- Brazil
Each pool had a different edge. Pool A stacked with England and Australia. Pool B is tough but more open, with Scotland and Wales chasing Canada. Pool C was unforgiving, with Japan staring at New Zealand and Ireland. Pool D colorful, France sharp as always, and Brazil eager just to be there.
2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup Schedule
The tournament ran just over a month, starting August 22 and closing September 27. Fans barely had a day to breathe between matches. Weekends felt like festivals. Quarterfinals packed stadiums, while the final at Twickenham sold out so fast that resale tickets started over £120.
| Date | Match | Venue |
| Aug 22 | England vs USA | Twickenham |
| Aug 22 | Australia vs Samoa | Twickenham |
| Aug 23 | Canada vs Fiji | Sunderland |
| Aug 23 | Scotland vs Wales | Sunderland |
| Aug 24 | New Zealand vs Spain | Exeter |
| Aug 24 | Ireland vs Japan | Exeter |
| Aug 25 | France vs Italy | Bristol |
| Aug 25 | South Africa vs Brazil | Bristol |
| Sept 13-14 | Quarterfinals | Multiple venues |
| Sept 19-20 | Semifinals | London |
| Sept 27 | Final | Twickenham |
Fans traveling in Asia often complained about the time difference, late-night kick-offs in Tokyo, even later in Hong Kong, but replays and streaming softened the blow.
2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup Results and Standings
Results poured in with the kind of drama fans expected. England smashed the USA 69–7 in the opener. The home crowd roared through every try, and by halftime it felt over. The next night, Australia took it further, thumping Samoa 73–0.
Pool B followed with Canada hammering Fiji 65–7, while Scotland beat Wales 38–8. In Pool C, New Zealand handled Spain 54–8, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe adding another try to her already ridiculous tally. Ireland beat Japan 42–14, a hard one for Asian fans to swallow.
France worked past Italy 24–0, efficient but without flair. South Africa celebrated their 66–6 win over Brazil like it was a title, their first World Cup win since 2010. By the end of group play, England, Canada, France, and New Zealand were clear leaders. Japan’s campaign ended, but not without moments of grit, especially against Spain.
Star Players to Watch in 2025
Every World Cup makes new stars, but some names just keep popping up.
- Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (New Zealand): Still terrifying defenders, adding to her record try count.
- Emily Scarratt (England): Reliable with the boot, calm in chaotic matches.
- Sophie de Goede (Canada): Orchestrated games like she had strings attached to the field.
- Siya Ngxongo (South Africa): Explosive runs turned Brazil’s defense inside out.
- Seina Saito (Japan): Tireless, even in heavy defeats, earning respect from opponents.
These players were the names whispered in queues at train stations, scribbled across morning papers, and replayed on highlight reels across Asia.
Broadcasting and How to Watch in Asia
Asian coverage was extensive this year. Japan’s NHK and J Sports carried every game. India tuned in on Sony Sports. Southeast Asia had RugbyPass TV alongside regional partners. Fans grumbled about the late-night matches but praised replay features.
Tickets for locals traveling to England started around £35, though knockout games jumped quickly. The final? Gone months before the first kick.
Impact of the Women’s Rugby World Cup on Asia
For Japan, being placed in Pool C felt cruel. Facing both Ireland and New Zealand showed the gulf between Asia and rugby’s giants. Yet, coaches back home saw value. Every minute on the pitch against those teams builds future squads. Children in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo watched their national team fight, and some of them will eventually lace up boots themselves.
Elsewhere in Asia, federations paid attention. Numbers don’t lie, over 220,000 tickets sold, global broadcasts reaching new homes. That’s the kind of proof sponsors want. But challenges remain: training facilities, school programs, competitive leagues. Rugby has momentum, but it needs structure.
The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup gave Asia another reminder: fans exist, passion exists, but infrastructure has to catch up.
Why the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup Matters for Asia
The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup was the biggest in history. Sixteen teams, thousands of fans, weeks of drama. England, New Zealand, Canada, and France led the charge, but for Asia, it was about Japan stepping up on the biggest stage.
Results didn’t flatter them, but exposure mattered. The tournament gave Asian rugby more visibility, more fuel, and more reason to push forward. For supporters watching in the middle of the night, the sound of Japanese jerseys colliding with New Zealand’s black shirts was enough proof that Asia belongs in the conversation.
