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What to watch in women’s rugby: World Cup pool draw

165 days ago

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - OCTOBER 12: England celebrate with the WXV1 trophy following the WXV1 Pool match between Canada and England at BC Place on October 12, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Rich Lam - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

The countdown to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England will pick up pace this week as the pools for the tournament are confirmed.

Sixteen teams have made sure of their progress to the expanded tournament, and they will find out the identity of their pool-stage opponents on Thursday.

On Saturday, meanwhile, we may get a glimpse of some of the players who will light up the World Cup as title contenders Bristol Bears and Saracens come face-to-face in the third round of Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR).

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – One year to go until the Women’s Rugby World Cup

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‘This Energy Never Stops’ – One year to go until the Women’s Rugby World Cup

With exactly one year to go until Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 kicks off
in Sunderland, excitement is sweeping across the host nation in anticipation of what
will be the biggest and most accessible celebration of women’s rugby ever.

You can watch all that and more live and for free on RugbyPass TV.

Watch England 2025 pool draw

We will take another sizeable step towards Women’s RWC 2025 on Thursday when the pools are drawn live on the BBC and RugbyPass TV.

After the full 16-team line-up was finalised at the end of WXV 2024 last weekend, the teams are now waiting to know who they will play in England next August and September.

The qualified nations have been seeded and divided into four bands for the draw, depending on their position in Monday’s World Rugby Women’s Rankings.

WXV 1 winners England are the No1 seeds and have been joined in the top band by Canada, reigning world champions New Zealand and France.

In band two, WXV 2 champions Australia head into the draw alongside, Ireland, Scotland and Italy – who climbed above USA at the last possible moment.

The Women’s Eagles were the big losers of the final weekend of WXV, their defeat to Ireland dropping them into the third band for Thursday’s draw alongside Wales, Japan and South Africa.

Spain, who won WXV 3 in dramatic fashion, find themselves in band four with Samoa, Fiji and Brazil – at No42 the lowest ranked nation in the tournament.

Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi will join BBC Sport’s Gabby Logan and a presenter from The One Show to draw one team from each band into each pool.

You can find out who gets drawn into which pool live and for free globally via RugbyPass TV from 19:19 BST (GMT+1).

Thursday, October 17th

19:19 BST (GMT+1) – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Draw – WATCH LIVE HERE

Saracens head to Bear country

The PWR season might only be two weeks old but round three looks like it could be a potentially pivotal one on the road to next year’s final at StoneX Stadium.

On Saturday, last season’s semi-finalists go head-to-head as Bristol Bears host Saracens at Ashton Gate before Gloucester-Hartpury take on Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm.

You can watch the first of those live and for free on RugbyPass TV, except in the UK, Ireland, Canada and USA.

Hosts Bears came agonisingly close to claiming their first PWR title in June leading Gloucester-Hartpury at half-time only to lose in Exeter.

And their quest for a return to the showpiece match got underway with a comfortable 46-19 defeat of Loughborough Lightning on October 5th. Having sat out round two they will be keen to win their first home match of the season.

Bristol’s cause could be boosted by the return of some of their England contingent, a scenario facing Saracens head coach Alex Austerberry as well.

Fixture

PWR

Bristol Bears Women

24 - 41

Full-time

Saracens Women

All Stats and Data

Saracens head into the match with two wins from two so far this season, having followed up a 38-29 victory against Trailfinders Women on the opening weekend with a 52-14 win at Sale.

Their quest for a first top-flight title since 2022 has been given an extra incentive this week with the news that they will host the showpiece match in March.

Saturday, October 19th

12:00 BST – Bristol Bears v Saracens, Ashton Gate – WATCH LIVE HERE

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GM 2 hours ago

‘They played for each other’: Jamie Joseph puts trust in his team ahead of Force clash

Wonderfully committed performance by the Highlanders, undone by scrum penalties. Last week they were justified, but this week a couple of those penalties should have gone the Landers’ way - once the Brumbies props saw which way the ref was going they started hinging and pulling the scrum down, but the ref just kept seeing the same picture.

1 Go to comments

fl 4 hours ago

Saracens to controversially rest England stars for Champions Cup KO game

Seeding in next years champions cup should be determined by performance in the champions cup the previous year in order to incentivise getting as far as possible even if you don’t stand much chance of winning

3 Go to comments

J Marc 4 hours ago

Saracens to controversially rest England stars for Champions Cup KO game

I remember some french side fined for this kind of problem….

3 Go to comments

RedWarriors 4 hours ago

'Leinster B' team shock Bok-laden Sharks in Durban for rare SA win

I don’t understand Sharks. They looked unplayably good at the outset of the season. Does anyone know what has happenned?

Etzebeth is injured and credit to a very strong Leinster side but has there been a dip or have I imagined it? Maybe they are missing more key players and the squad lacks depth?

3 Go to comments

BA 4 hours ago

All Black's England switch hanging by a thread

Nah Shields was playing great before he left u must be thinking when was still early in his career

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eandrew7 4 hours ago

Crusaders vs Moana Pasifika: New best 10 in Super Rugby contender, Superman Savea

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BA 4 hours ago

All Black's England switch hanging by a thread

Sport all over the world allows national representation thru hereditary reasons and residence so don’t really understand where you are coming from with this?

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Utiku Old Boy 4 hours ago

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His comment that “defense is optional - by me too!” shows why form in Japan does not always translate well back to Super or International rugby. Time marches on and very seldom, do we pick up from where we were - especially from 3 years ago. Good to hear he has aspirations but I hope he has to earn it and is not an anointed favorite child who is given automatic selection overshadowing players who are emerging in much tougher environments. Razor has a tendency to stick with players past their “Best By” dates - Wyatt Crockett excepted.

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fl 4 hours ago

George Skivington talks up 'relative unknown's England chances

Not really an unknown anymore. I barely watch the prem and I've been a fan of him since 2023.

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RedWarriors 5 hours ago

Saracens to controversially rest England stars for Champions Cup KO game

This is what is hurting the Champions Cup and it is related to the round of 16. Saracens do not believe they have a realistic chance in this competition and are selecting accordingly. They are right about their chances. 8 teams at least have no chance and are not interested in sacrificing their domestic chances.

That said I know Ulster and Munster as past winners will have a crack. But it will hurt their domestic ‘race to eight’.

3 Go to comments

YeowNotEven 5 hours ago

All Black's England switch hanging by a thread

It could just be they got their international shot, and developed when they did, sure.

But Brad shields was soft as butter before he left, that’s why he was never going to get more than a few injury replacement caps for the ABs.

Much, much better player for his time up north.

16 Go to comments

RedWarriors 5 hours ago

'We had a good plan, we saw the opportunity to beat the Sharks': Leo Cullen

I think Leinster had a plan to win both matches.

The defensive pressure was impressive and it made things hard for sharks with the greasy ball. That’s not an academy team though, a lot of those guys have two SA tours under their belt and a load of Leinster caps. There were a few new caps but so few as to not effect the system. Gunne was a first start but he has had a good few appearances and is a talent in play and attitide.

Sharks reaction to some early errors seemed to shout “Here we go again”.

As good as Leinster played and as hard as they made it, I assumed that Sharks would have the quality to find a way. Leinster slowed the rucks just enough to cause Sharks some issues and overruns etc.

The great Eben Etzebeth was missing and he is clearly great in motivating and driving a team as well as in play. Some thing more than Etzebeth missing. The Leinster players not playing today will be cheering and sucking energy from that performance as much as if they were there. That’s the spirit in the club. Anyone can see how bonded and loyal Snyman, Barrett and Slimani are in a small period of time. I think Leinster have a special setup up there, but Sharks are definately below average in belief, confidence and spirit based on Saturday.

Obviously a straight forward kick for a draw was available at the end but I don’t think that would have been acceptable and Sharks must go for the win at home.

Note: Zebo said in coverage that if Erasmus has the reigns with Sharks they would be no1 in URC and Champions Cup ‘By a distance’. I don’t agree with that ofcourse but in between sucking up to Erasmus he is clearly pinpointing what he believes is a coaching issue.

4 Go to comments

DP 5 hours ago

'We had a good plan, we saw the opportunity to beat the Sharks': Leo Cullen

It’s poor coaching. You can’t argue against the calibre of players at the Sharks disposal. If there are too many egos in that dressing room then get a no nonsense coach like Ackerman to step in.

4 Go to comments

DP 5 hours ago

'We had a good plan, we saw the opportunity to beat the Sharks': Leo Cullen

Congrats to academy Leinster players, easily rolled a vaunted Bok laden squad and handled the ball better than locals could. Plumtree has to go and take Neil with him.

4 Go to comments

RL 6 hours ago

'Leinster B' team shock Bok-laden Sharks in Durban for rare SA win

Leinster B team a bit rich they’re an excellent side with the best of sport science coaching behind them making the utmost of their personnel. Rugby SA and Rassie the wizard need to find some better coaching talent from seomewhere for our franchises they're falling behind. Plumtree isn't bad but he's not up there with the big boys even Jake just makes the cut. With better coaching and use of our super talented Sharks personnel the Sharks would be unbeatable.

3 Go to comments

Flankly 6 hours ago

'Leinster B' team shock Bok-laden Sharks in Durban for rare SA win

Leinster deserved the win. Sharks deserved a bigger beating.

I need to quit the stupid optimism that we will soon see the Sharks play to their potential.

3 Go to comments

Flankly 6 hours ago

'We had a good plan, we saw the opportunity to beat the Sharks': Leo Cullen

Credit to Leinster. Sharks are heroes against average opposition, and zeros against well-coached teams. Amazing, given the awesome roster.

Plumtree says it was only one score. Hello? Some thoughts: 1/ The best coaches never say that, and 2/ an incremental maul try would not change the fact that the team was boring and static in attack.

Suggestion for Neil Powell: Stop doing whatever you are doing, and do whatever it takes to hire a coaching team with vision.

4 Go to comments

GP 7 hours ago

Richie Mo'unga lifts lid on 2027 Rugby World Cup ambitions

Richie Mo’unga is in brilliant form in Japan. Following on from his genius as a number 10, being so pivotal to 7 titles under Razor with the Crusaders, 2017-23. Richie is badly needed. A mercurial , brilliant 10.

3 Go to comments

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What to watch in women’s rugby: World Cup pool draw

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – One year to go until the Women’s Rugby World Cup

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – One year to go until the Women’s Rugby World Cup

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