2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup – tournament’s 10th edition – begins in Sunderland as England’s Red Roses smash USA, scoring 11 tries; final takes place at Twickenham on September 27; England hope home advantage helps dethrone defending champions New Zealand and propels Red Roses to glory
By Michael Cantillon
Last Updated: 22/08/25 9:25pm
Hannah Botterman was among the try scorers as England’s smashed the USA
England’s Red Roses began their 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in ideal fashion, dispatching the USA 69-7 at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.
John Mitchell’s side scored 11 tries in the tournament opener through back-row Sadia Kabeya, loosehead Hannah Botterman, tighthead Maud Muir, full-back Ellie Kildunne (two), wings Abby Dow and Jess Breach (two) and hookers Amy Cokayne and Lark Atkin-Davies (two).
Red Roses fly-half Zoe Harrison also kicked five conversions in victory before departing, while the USA scored only through Erica Jarrell’s try, which brought the Test to 14-7 in the first half before centre Alev Kelter was sin-binned to firmly turn the direction of things in favour of the hosts from an early stage.
The second half then proved utterly one-sided as England dominated to kick on and score a flood of tries in front of a record opening Women’s World Cup crowd of nearly 43,000.
Red Roses full-back Ellie Kildunne put in an impressive display to be named player of the match
More to follow…
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What’s next?
England play their second Pool A fixture against Samoa on Saturday August 30 at Northampton Franklin’s Gardens (5pm).
The USA’s second Rugby World Cup Pool A clash comes against Australia in York on Saturday August 30 (7.30pm).
The redesigned Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy awaits its next champion – but who will claim it in 2025?
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 schedule
Pool stage
Pool A
August 22: England 69-7 United States – Sunderland
August 23: Australia vs Samoa – Salford, 12pm
August 30: England vs Samoa – Northampton, 5pm
August 30: United States vs Australia – York, 7.30pm
September 6: United States vs Samoa – York, 1.30pm
September 6: England vs Australia – Brighton, 5pm
Pool B
August 23: Scotland vs Wales – Salford, 2.45pm
August 23: Canada vs Fiji – York, 5.30pm
August 30: Canada vs Wales – Salford, 12pm
August 30: Scotland vs Fiji – Salford, 2.45pm
September 6: Canada vs Scotland – Exeter, 12pm
September 6: Wales vs Fiji – Exeter, 2.45pm
Pool C
August 24: Ireland vs Japan – Northampton, 12pm
August 24: New Zealand vs Spain – York, 5.30pm
August 31: Ireland vs Spain – Northampton, 12pm
August 31: New Zealand vs Japan – Exeter, 2pm
September 7: Japan vs Spain – York, 12pm
September 7: New Zealand vs Ireland – Brighton, 2.45pm
Pool D
August 23: France vs Italy – Exeter, 8.15pm
August 24: South Africa vs Brazil – Northampton, 2.45pm
August 31: Italy vs South Africa – York, 3.30pm
August 31: France vs Brazil – Exeter, 4.45pm
September 7: Italy vs Brazil – Northampton, 2pm
September 7: France vs South Africa – Northampton, 4.45pm