2025 Women's Rugby World Cup Pool C

Pool C of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup began in August 2025. The pool includes Ireland, Japan, Spain, and defending champions New Zealand.[1]

Teams

The draw for the pool stage took place on 17 October 2024 in London.[2] A seeding system was used for the draw, with teams allocated a seed based on their World Rugby Women's World Rankings as of 14 October 2024. The top four teams in the rankings were placed into band 1 and prepopulated into the first position in each pool. The remaining 12 teams were drawn into bands 2, 3, and 4 based on their rankings and drawn one by one.[2]

Pos. Team Band Confederation Method of
qualification 		Date of
qualification 		Apps. Last Previous best
performance 		World Rugby Rankings[3]
14 October 2024[N 1] 18 August 2025[N 2]
C1  New Zealand 1 Oceania Top 4 at 2021 RWC 29 October 2022 9th 2021 Winners (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2021)[4][5] 3 3
C2  Ireland 2 Europe Europe 1 27 April 2024 8th 2017 Fourth place (2014)[4][6] 7 5
C3  Japan 3 Asia Asia 1 27 May 2024 6th 2021 Quarter-finals (1994)[4][7] 11 11
C4  Spain 4 Europe 2024 WXV 3 12 October 2024 7th 2017 Quarter-finals (1998, 2002)[4][8] 13 13

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1  New Zealand 3 3 0 0 156 27 +129 24 4 3 0 15 Advance to knockout stage
2  Ireland 3 2 0 1 85 81 +4 13 13 2 0 10
3  Japan 3 1 0 2 62 125 −63 10 19 1 0 5
4  Spain 3 0 0 3 56 126 −70 9 20 1 0 1
Source: World Rugby[9]

Matches

The match schedule was confirmed by World Rugby on 22 October 2024. Ireland vs Japan will be the first game of pool C.[10]

Ireland vs Japan

24 August 2025
12:00 BST (UTC+1)
(1 BP) Ireland 42–14 Japan
Try: Costigan 5' c
Jones 10' c
Parsons 24' c
Tuite 37' c
Higgins 53' c
Breen 63' c
Con: O'Brien (6/6) 6', 11', 25', 38', 54', 64'		Report[11]Try: Hirotsu 29' c
Kawamura 43' c
Con: Ōtsuka (2/2) 30', 44'
Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
Attendance: 13,053
Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)[12]
FB 15 Stacey Flood
RW 14 Béibhinn Parsons
OC 13 Aoife Dalton
IC 12 Eve Higgins  61'
LW 11 Amee-Leigh Costigan  61'
FH 10 Dannah O'Brien
SH 9 Aoibheann Reilly  74'
N8 8 Brittany Hogan  74'
OF 7 Edel McMahon (cc)  76'
BF 6 Fiona Tuite
RL 5 Sam Monaghan (cc)
LL 4 Ruth Campbell  61'
TP 3 Linda Djougang  69'
HK 2 Neve Jones  61'
LP 1 Niamh O'Dowd  61'
Replacements:
HK 16 Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald  61'
PR 17 Ellena Perry  61'
PR 18 Sadhbh McGrath
SR 19 Eimear Corri Fallon  61'
BR 20 Grace Moore  74'
SH 21 Emily Lane  74'
CE 22 Enya Breen  61'
WG 23 Anna McGann  61'
Coach:
Scott Bemand
FB 15 Sora Nishimura  61'
RW 14 Misaki Matsumura
OC 13 Mana Furuta
IC 12 Haruka Hirotsu
LW 11 Komachi Imakugi  68'
FH 10 Ayasa Ōtsuka
SH 9 Moe Tsukui  61'
N8 8 Seina Saito  61'
OF 7 Iroha Nagata (c)
BF 6 Masami Kawamura
RL 5 Otoka Yoshimura  51'
LL 4 Yuna Sato
TP 3 Wako Kitano  50'
HK 2 Asuka Kuge  64'
LP 1 Sachiko Kato  61'
Replacements:
HK 16 Kotomi Taniguchi  64'
PR 17 Manami Mine  61'
PR 18 Nijiho Nagata  50'
SR 19 Ayano Sakurai  51'
BR 20 Kyoko Hosokawa  61'
SH 21 Megumi Abe  61'
FH 22 Minori Yamamoto  61'
CE 23 Sakurako Hatada  68'
Coach:
Lesley McKenzie

Player of the Match:
Brittany Hogan (Ireland)[13]

Assistant referees:
Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
Amelia Luciano (United States)
Television match official:
Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Foul play review officer:
Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)


New Zealand vs Spain

24 August 2025
17:30 BST (UTC+1)
(1 BP) New Zealand 54–8 Spain
Try: Miller (2) 13' c, 17' c
Mikaele-Tu'u 24' c
Leti-I'iga (2) 46' c, 58' m
Ponsonby 50' c
Woodman-Wickliffe 61' c
Setefano 73' c
Con: Holmes (7/8) 14', 18', 25', 47', 51', 62', 74'		Report[14]Try: Antolínez 80+2' m
Pen: Argudo (1/1) 35'
York Community Stadium, York
Attendance: 7,458
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Australia)[12]
FB 15 Renee Holmes
RW 14 Braxton Sorensen-McGee  51'
OC 13 Amy du Plessis  41'
IC 12 Theresa Setefano
LW 11 Ayesha Leti-I'iga  63'
FH 10 Kelly Brazier
SH 9 Iritana Hohaia  41'
N8 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u
OF 7 Jorja Miller  41'
BF 6 Layla Sae
RL 5 Chelsea Bremner
LL 4 Alana Bremner (cc)  41'
TP 3 Amy Rule  47'
HK 2 Vici-Rose Green  47'
LP 1 Awhina Tangen-Wainohu  47'
Replacements:
HK 16 Georgia Ponsonby  47'
PR 17 Chryss Viliko  47'
PR 18 Tanya Kalounivale  47'
SR 19 Laura Bayfield  41'
BR 20 Kaipo Olsen-Baker  41'  54'
SH 21 Risi Pouri-Lane  41'
FH 22 Ruahei Demant (cc)  41'
WG 23 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe  51'
Coach:
Allan Bunting
FB 15 Lea Ducher  57'
RW 14 Tecla Masoko  66'
OC 13 Clàudia Peña
IC 12 Zahía Pérez
LW 11 Clara Piquero
FH 10 Amàlia Argudo
SH 9 Anne Fernández de Corres
N8 8 Alba Capell
OF 7 Nerea García  75'
BF 6 Victoria Rosell  54'
RL 5 Lourdes Alameda
LL 4 Mónica Castelo
TP 3 Sidorella Bracic  54'
HK 2 Cristina Blanco  61'
LP 1 Laura Delgado (c)  41'
Replacements:
HK 16 Nuria Jou  61'
PR 17 Inés Antolínez  41'
PR 18 Mireia De Andres  54'
SR 19 Anna Puig  75'
BR 20 Lia Piñeiro  54'
SH 21 Maider Aresti  69'
CE 22 Alba Vinuesa  57'  69'
CE 23 Claudia Pérez  66'
Coach:
Juan González Marruecos

Player of the Match:
Liana Mikaele-Tu'u (New Zealand)[15]

Assistant referees:
Kat Roche (United States)
Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
Television match official:
Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Foul play review officer:
Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

Notes:


Ireland vs Spain

31 August 2025
12:00 BST (UTC+1)
(1 BP) Ireland 43–27 Spain (1 BP)
Try: O'Brien 7' c
Costigan 18' m
Higgins 35' c
McGann (2) 38' m, 70' c
Moore (2) 46' m, 56' c
Con: O'Brien (3/6) 8', 35', 57'
Breen (1/1) 70'		Report[18]Try: Pérez 23' m
Román 28' c
Peña 43' m
Alameda 60' m
Blanco 80+1' m
Con: Argudo (1/4) 29'
Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
Attendance: 8,834[19]
Referee: Kat Roche (United States)[12]
FB 15 Stacey Flood
RW 14 Anna McGann
OC 13 Aoife Dalton  62'
IC 12 Eve Higgins
LW 11 Amee-Leigh Costigan
FH 10 Dannah O'Brien  62'
SH 9 Molly Scuffil-McCabe  52'
N8 8 Grace Moore
OF 7 Claire Boles
BF 6 Fiona Tuite  71'
RL 5 Sam Monaghan (c)  24'
LL 4 Eimear Corri Fallon
TP 3 Linda Djougang  62'
HK 2 Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald  62'
LP 1 Ellena Perry  62'
Replacements:
HK 16 Neve Jones  62'
SR 17 Siobhán McCarthy  62'
PR 18 Sadhbh McGrath  62'
SR 19 Ruth Campbell  71'
BR 20 Brittany Hogan  24'
SH 21 Emily Lane  52'
CE 22 Enya Breen  62'
CE 23 Nancy McGillivray  62'
Coach:
Scott Bemand
FB 15 Amàlia Argudo  66'
RW 14 Claudia Pérez
OC 13 Clàudia Peña
IC 12 Claudia Cano
LW 11 Clara Piquero
FH 10 Zahía Pérez
SH 9 Anne Fernández de Corres  71'
N8 8 Valentina Pérez
OF 7 Ana Peralta
BF 6 Lia Piñeiro  68'
RL 5 Elena Martínez  52'
LL 4 Lourdes Alameda (cc)  71'
TP 3 Eider García  44'
HK 2 Marieta Román  56'
LP 1 Gemma Silva  59'
Replacements:
HK 16 Cristina Blanco  56'
PR 17 Laura Delgado (cc)  59'
PR 18 Mireia De Andres  44'
SR 19 Anna Puig  71'
SR 20 Mónica Castelo  52'
BR 21 Nerea García  68'
SH 22 Bingbing Vergara  71'
CE 23 Lea Ducher  66'
Coach:
Juan González Marruecos

Player of the Match:
Ellena Perry (Ireland)[20]

Assistant referees:
Clara Munarini (Italy)
Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
Television match official:
Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Foul play review officer:
Ian Tempest (England)

Notes:


New Zealand vs Japan

31 August 2025
14:00 BST (UTC+1)
(1 BP) New Zealand 62–19 Japan
Try: Woodman-Wickliffe 13' m
Miller (2) 16' c, 68' m
Vahaakolo 25' c
Sorensen-McGee (3) 31' m, 50' m, 70' c
Tukuafu 35' c
Pouri-Lane 39' c
Holmes 72' c
Con: Sorensen-McGee (4/6) 17', 26', 36', 40'
Holmes (2/4) 71', 73'		Report[22]Try: Hatada 4' m
Tsukui 47' c
Penalty try 67'
Con: Ōtsuka (1/2) 48'
Sandy Park, Exeter
Attendance: 13,902[N 3]
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France)[12]
FB 15 Braxton Sorensen-McGee
RW 14 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
OC 13 Stacey Waaka  40'  41'
IC 12 Sylvia Brunt  40'
LW 11 Katelyn Vaha'akolo
FH 10 Ruahei Demant (cc)  41'
SH 9 Risi Pouri-Lane  41'
N8 8 Layla Sae  53'
OF 7 Jorja Miller
BF 6 Kennedy Tukuafu  41'
RL 5 Alana Bremner (cc)
LL 4 Maia Roos
TP 3 Tanya Kalounivale  46'
HK 2 Georgia Ponsonby  51'
LP 1 Chryss Viliko  51'
Replacements:
HK 16 Atlanta Lolohea  51'
PR 17 Kate Henwood  51'
PR 18 Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu  46'
SR 19 Laura Bayfield  43'  67'  41'
BR 20 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u  53'
SH 21 Maia Joseph  41'
FB 22 Renee Holmes  40'
CE 23 Theresa Setefano  40'
Coach:
Allan Bunting
FB 15 Sora Nishimura  1'
RW 14 Sakurako Hatada
OC 13 Mana Furuta
IC 12 Haruka Hirotsu  39'  66'
LW 11 Komachi Imakugi
FH 10 Ayasa Ōtsuka
SH 9 Moe Tsukui  53'
N8 8 Seina Saito  53'
OF 7 Iroha Nagata (c)
BF 6 Masami Kawamura
RL 5 Otoka Yoshimura  53'
LL 4 Yuna Sato
TP 3 Wako Kitano  69'
HK 2 Asuka Kuge  58'
LP 1 Sachiko Kato  58'
Replacements:
HK 16 Kotomi Taniguchi  58'
PR 17 Manami Mine  58'
PR 18 Nijiho Nagata  69'
SR 19 Ayano Sakurai  53'
BR 20 Jennifer Nduka  53'
SH 21 Megumi Abe  53'
FH 22 Minori Yamamoto  1'
CE 23 Kanako Kobayashi  66'
Coach:
Lesley McKenzie

Player of the Match:
Braxton Sorensen-McGee (New Zealand)[24]

Assistant referees:
Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Jess Ling (Australia)
Television match official:
Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Foul play review officer:
Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

Notes:


Japan vs Spain

7 September 2025
12:00 BST (UTC+1)
(1 BP) Japan 29–21 Spain
Try: Nishimura 6' m
Nagata 45' c
Kitano 57' m
Imakugi 61' m
Nduka 69' c
Con: Ōtsuka (1/4) 46'
Yamamoto (1/1) 70'		Report[26]Try: Blanco 11' c
Castelo 38' c
Rosell 78' c
Con: Argudo (2/2) 12', 39'
Peña (1/1) 79'
York Community Stadium, York
Attendance: 3,779
Referee: Sara Cox (England)[12]
FB 15 Sora Nishimura  65'
RW 14 Misaki Matsumura  19'
OC 13 Mana Furuta
IC 12 Haruka Hirotsu  65'  77'
LW 11 Komachi Imakugi
FH 10 Ayasa Ōtsuka
SH 9 Megumi Abe  41'
N8 8 Jennifer Nduka  57'  65'  77'
OF 7 Iroha Nagata (c)
BF 6 Masami Kawamura
RL 5 Otoka Yoshimura  61'
LL 4 Yuna Sato
TP 3 Wako Kitano  70'
HK 2 Asuka Kuge  65'
LP 1 Sachiko Kato  57'
Replacements:
HK 16 Kotomi Taniguchi  65'
PR 17 Manami Mine  57'
PR 18 Nijiho Nagata  70'
SR 19 Ayano Sakurai  61'
BR 20 Seina Saito  57'
SH 21 Moe Tsukui  41'
FH 22 Minori Yamamoto  65'
WG 23 Mele Yua Havili Kagawa  19'
Coach:
Lesley McKenzie
FB 15 Amàlia Argudo  52'
RW 14 Claudia Pérez  70'
OC 13 Clàudia Peña  29'  41'
IC 12 Lea Ducher
LW 11 Clara Piquero  65'
FH 10 Zahia Pérez
SH 9 Anne Fernández de Corres  65'
N8 8 Alba Capell
OF 7 Nerea García
BF 6 Ana Peralta  65'
RL 5 Lourdes Alameda (c)  54'
LL 4 Mónica Castelo
TP 3 Sidorella Bracic  57'
HK 2 Cristina Blanco  65'
LP 1 Inés Antolínez  65'
Replacements:
HK 16 Marieta Román  65'
PR 17 Gemma Silva  65'
PR 18 Mireia De Andres  57'
SR 19 Victoria Rosell  54'
BR 20 Valentina Pérez  65'
SH 21 Bingbing Vergara  52'
WG 22 Tecla Masoko  29'  41'  70'
WG 23 Ana Cortés  65'
Coach:
Juan González Marruecos

Player of the Match:
Sora Nishimura (Japan)[27]

Assistant referees:
Holly Wood (England)
Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
Television match official:
Ian Tempest (England)
Foul play review officer:
Matteo Liperini (Italy)

Notes:

  • Sara Cox became the first female official to referee 50 test matches.[28]


New Zealand vs Ireland

7 September 2025
14:45 BST (UTC+1)
(1 BP) New Zealand 40–0 Ireland
Try: Waaka 15' c
Viliko 20' m
Sorensen-McGee (3) 37' c, 58' c, 79' c
Joseph 80+1' c
Con: Holmes (5/6) 16', 38', 59', 80', 80+2'		Report[29]
Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, Brighton
Attendance: 30,017[30]
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)[12]
FB 15 Renee Holmes
RW 14 Braxton Sorensen-McGee
OC 13 Stacey Waaka
IC 12 Sylvia Brunt  69'
LW 11 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe  52'
FH 10 Ruahei Demant (cc)
SH 9 Risi Pouri-Lane  63'
N8 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u
OF 7 Jorja Miller
BF 6 Layla Sae  55'
RL 5 Alana Bremner  26'  34'  55'
LL 4 Maia Roos
TP 3 Tanya Kalounivale  31'
HK 2 Georgia Ponsonby  67'
LP 1 Chryss Viliko  55'
Replacements:
HK 16 Vici-Rose Green  67'
PR 17 Kate Henwood  55'
PR 18 Amy Rule  31'
SR 19 Laura Bayfield  26'  34'  55'
BR 20 Kennedy Tukuafu (cc)  55'
SH 21 Maia Joseph  63'
CE 22 Theresa Setefano  69'
WG 23 Ayesha Leti-I'iga  52'
Coach:
Allan Bunting
FB 15 Stacey Flood  34'
RW 14 Béibhinn Parsons  45'  74'
OC 13 Aoife Dalton
IC 12 Eve Higgins  74'
LW 11 Amee-Leigh Costigan
FH 10 Dannah O'Brien
SH 9 Aoibheann Reilly  61'
N8 8 Brittany Hogan
OF 7 Edel McMahon (cc)  45'
BF 6 Grace Moore
RL 5 Sam Monaghan (cc)  61'
LL 4 Ruth Campbell
TP 3 Linda Djougang  61'
HK 2 Neve Jones  50'
LP 1 Niamh O'Dowd  61'
Replacements:
HK 16 Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald  50'
PR 17 Siobhán McCarthy  61'
PR 18 Sadhbh McGrath  61'
SR 19 Eimear Corri Fallon  61'
SR 20 Claire Boles  45'
SH 21 Emily Lane  61'
CE 22 Nancy McGillivray  34'
WG 23 Anna McGann  45'
Coach:
Scott Bemand

Player of the Match:
Sylvia Brunt (New Zealand)[31]

Assistant referees:
Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
Amelia Luciano (United States)
Television match official:
Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Foul play review officer:
Matteo Liperini (Italy)

Notes

  1. ^ The rankings of 14 October 2024 were used for seeding for the draw.
  2. ^ The final rankings before the tournament started
  3. ^ This fixture was sold under a single ticket with the France vs Brazil Pool D match. The recorded attendance corresponds to the France vs Brazil game.[23]

References

  1. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2025 draw: England in pool with Australia, USA and Samoa". BBC Sport. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b "World Rugby confirms draw and match schedule release dates for Women's Rugby World Cup England 2025". Rugby World Cup. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Women's and Men's Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d @rugbyworldcup; (3 August 2025). "From champions to newcomers". Retrieved 3 August 2025 – via Instagram.
  5. ^ "New Zealand team overview". Rugby World Cup. 11 December 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Ireland team overview". Rugby World Cup. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Japan team overview". 23 October 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Spain team overview". Rugby World Cup. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Pools | Women's Rugby World Cup 2025". Rugby World Cup. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  10. ^ Orchard, Sara (22 October 2024). "Hosts England to face USA in World Cup opener". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  11. ^ "IRE 42-14 JPN: Slick Ireland shine against spirited Japan". Rugby World Cup. 24 August 2025. Archived from the original on 31 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "Match Officials Appointments | Women's Rugby World Cup 2025". World Rugby. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  13. ^ @rugbyworldcup; (24 August 2025). "Always when it matters most". Retrieved 1 September 2025 – via Instagram.
  14. ^ "New Zealand vs Spain - Women's Rugby World Cup 2025". Rugby World Cup. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  15. ^ @rugbyworldcup; (24 August 2025). "A try in an all-round masterclass of a showing in York". Retrieved 1 September 2025 – via Instagram.
  16. ^ @blackferns; (23 August 2025). "Update ahead of our @rugbyworldcup opener against Spain". Retrieved 24 August 2025 – via Instagram.
  17. ^ "Olsen-Baker and Leti-I'iga injuries dampen win as New Zealand fly past Spain". The Guardian. 24 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  18. ^ "IRE 43-27 ESP: End-to-end epic sees Ireland on verge of quarter-finals". Rugby World Cup. 31 August 2025. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Ireland battle past Spain to secure early quarter-final spot". Rugby News, Results, and Analysis | Rugby is the Game. 31 August 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  20. ^ @rugbyworldcup; (31 August 2025). "She was unstoppable for Ireland". Retrieved 1 September 2025 – via Instagram.
  21. ^ "'50 Caps Takes A Special Player' – Bemand On Djougang's Milestone Achievement". Irish Rugby. 31 August 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  22. ^ "NZL 62-19 JPN: Stuttering New Zealand see off valiant Japan". Rugby World Cup. 31 August 2025. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  23. ^ Coupe du monde 2025 : Âmes Sœurs Épisode 3 : Dans l'ombre des Bleues [2025 World Cup: Soulmates Episode 3: In the Shadow of Les Bleues]. YouTube (in French). France Rugby. 1 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  24. ^ @rugbyworldcup; (31 August 2025). "With a hat-trick performance there was never any doubt". Retrieved 1 September 2025 – via Instagram.
  25. ^ "Woodman-Wickliffe breaks New Zealand try record in World Cup cruise against Japan". The Guardian. 31 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  26. ^ "JPN 29-21 ESP: Japan beat Spain with second-half surge". Rugby World Cup. 9 July 2025. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  27. ^ @rugbyworldcup; (7 September 2025). "The opening try and a stand-out all round performance". Retrieved 14 September 2025 – via Instagram.
  28. ^ "'Hopefully my 50th will be surpassed very quickly', says pioneering referee Sara Cox". Rugby World Cup. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  29. ^ "NZL 40-0 IRE: Sorensen-McGee hat-trick helps Black Ferns claim top spot in Pool C". Rugby World Cup. 9 June 2025. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  30. ^ "Ireland suffer New Zealand blow out heading to quarter-finals". The Irish Times. 7 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  31. ^ @rugbyworldcup; (7 September 2025). "Running the show in midfield". Retrieved 14 September 2025 – via Instagram.
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