2025 Women's Rugby World Cup Pool C

Last updated

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]

Contents

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 ConfederationMethod of
qualification		Date of
qualification		Apps.LastPrevious best
performance		 World Rugby Rankings [3]
14 October 2024 [N 1] 18 August 2025 [N 2]
C1Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1 Oceania Top 4 at 2021 RWC 29 October 20229th 2021 Winners (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2021) [4] [5] 33
C2IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 2 Europe Europe 1 27 April 20248th 2017 Fourth place (2014) [4] [6] 75
C3Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 3 Asia Asia 1 27 May 20246th 2021 Quarter-finals (1994) [4] [7] 1111
C4Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 4 Europe 2024 WXV 3 12 October 20247th 2017 Quarter-finals (1998, 2002) [4] [8] 1313

Standings

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATBLBPtsQualification
1Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand (Q)220011627+891842010Advance to knockout stage
2IRFU flag.svg  Ireland (Q)22008541+441372010
3Flag of Spain.svg  Spain (E)20023597−62615101
4Flag of Japan.svg  Japan (E)200233104−71516000
Updated to match(es) played on 31 August 2025. 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  IRFU flag.svg42–14Flag of Japan.svg  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[ citation needed ]
Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy) [12]
FB15 Stacey Flood
RW14 Béibhinn Parsons
OC13 Aoife Dalton
IC12 Eve Higgins Sub off.svg 61'
LW11 Amee-Leigh Costigan Sub off.svg 61'
FH10 Dannah O'Brien
SH9 Aoibheann Reilly Sub off.svg 74'
N88 Brittany Hogan Sub off.svg 74'
OF7 Edel McMahon (cc)Sub off.svg 76'
BF6 Fiona Tuite
RL5 Sam Monaghan (cc)
LL4 Ruth Campbell Sub off.svg 61'
TP3 Linda Djougang Yellow card.svg 69'
HK2 Neve Jones Sub off.svg 61'
LP1 Niamh O'Dowd Sub off.svg 61'
Replacements:
HK16 Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald Sub on.svg 61'
PR17 Ellena Perry Sub on.svg 61'
PR18 Sadhbh McGrath
SR19 Eimear Corri Fallon Sub on.svg 61'
BR20 Grace Moore Sub on.svg 74'
SH21 Emily Lane Sub on.svg 74'
CE22 Enya Breen Sub on.svg 61'
WG23 Anna McGann Sub on.svg 61'
Coach:
Flag of England.svg Scott Bemand
FB15 Sora Nishimura Sub off.svg 61'
RW14 Misaki Matsumura
OC13 Mana Furuta
IC12 Haruka Hirotsu
LW11 Komachi Imakugi Sub off.svg 68'
FH10 Ayasa Ōtsuka
SH9 Moe Tsukui Sub off.svg 61'
N88 Seina Saito Sub off.svg 61'
OF7 Iroha Nagata (c)
BF6 Masami Kawamura
RL5 Otoka Yoshimura Sub off.svg 51'
LL4 Yuna Sato
TP3 Wako Kitano Sub off.svg 50'
HK2 Asuka Kuge Sub off.svg 64'
LP1 Sachiko Kato Sub off.svg 61'
Replacements:
HK16 Kotomi Taniguchi Sub on.svg 64'
PR17 Manami Mine Sub on.svg 61'
PR18 Nijiho Nagata Sub on.svg 50'
SR19 Ayano Sakurai Sub on.svg 51'
BR20 Kyoko Hosokawa Sub on.svg 61'
SH21 Megumi Abe Sub on.svg 61'
FH22 Minori Yamamoto Sub on.svg 61'
CE23 Sakurako Hatada Sub on.svg 68'
Coach:
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 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  Flag of New Zealand.svg54–8Flag of Spain.svg  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[ citation needed ]
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Australia) [12]
FB15 Renee Holmes
RW14 Braxton Sorensen-McGee Sub off.svg 51'
OC13 Amy du Plessis Sub off.svg 41'
IC12 Theresa Setefano
LW11 Ayesha Leti-I'iga Sub off.svg 63'
FH10 Kelly Brazier
SH9 Iritana Hohaia Sub off.svg 41'
N88 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u
OF7 Jorja Miller Sub off.svg 41'
BF6 Layla Sae
RL5 Chelsea Bremner
LL4 Alana Bremner (cc)Sub off.svg 41'
TP3 Amy Rule Sub off.svg 47'
HK2 Vici-Rose Green Sub off.svg 47'
LP1 Awhina Tangen-Wainohu Sub off.svg 47'
Replacements:
HK16 Georgia Ponsonby Sub on.svg 47'
PR17 Chryss Viliko Sub on.svg 47'
PR18 Tanya Kalounivale Sub on.svg 47'
SR19 Laura Bayfield Sub on.svg 41'
BR20 Kaipo Olsen-Baker Sub on.svg 41'Sub off.svg 54'
SH21 Risi Pouri-Lane Sub on.svg 41'
FH22 Ruahei Demant (cc)Sub on.svg 41'
WG23 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe Sub on.svg 51'
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Allan Bunting
FB15 Lea Ducher Sub off.svg 57'
RW14 Tecla Masoko Sub off.svg 66'
OC13 Clàudia Peña
IC12 Zahia Pérez
LW11 Clara Piquero
FH10 Amàlia Argudo
SH9 Anne Fernández de Corres
N88 Alba Capell
OF7 Nerea García Sub off.svg 75'
BF6 Victoria Rosell Sub off.svg 54'
RL5 Lourdes Alameda
LL4 Monica Castelo
TP3 Sidorella Bracic Sub off.svg 54'
HK2 Cristina Blanco Sub off.svg 61'
LP1 Laura Delgado (c)Sub off.svg 41'
Replacements:
HK16 Nuria Jou Sub on.svg 61'
PR17 Inés Antolínez Sub on.svg 41'
PR18 Mireia De Andres Sub on.svg 54'
SR19 Anna Puig Sub on.svg 75'
BR20 Lia Piñeiro Sub on.svg 54'
SH21 Maider Aresti Sub on.svg 69'
CE22 Alba Vinuesa Sub on.svg 57'Sub off.svg 69'
CE23 Claudia Pérez Sub on.svg 66'
Coach:
Flag of Spain.svg 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  IRFU flag.svg43–27Flag of Spain.svg  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]
FB15 Stacey Flood
RW14 Anna McGann
OC13 Aoife Dalton Sub off.svg 62'
IC12 Eve Higgins
LW11 Amee-Leigh Costigan
FH10 Dannah O'Brien Sub off.svg 62'
SH9 Molly Scuffil-McCabe Sub off.svg 52'
N88 Grace Moore
OF7 Claire Boles
BF6 Fiona Tuite Sub off.svg 71'
RL5 Sam Monaghan (c)Sub off.svg 24'
LL4 Eimear Corri Fallon
TP3 Linda Djougang Sub off.svg 62'
HK2 Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald Sub off.svg 62'
LP1 Ellena Perry Sub off.svg 62'
Replacements:
HK16 Neve Jones Sub on.svg 62'
SR17 Siobhán McCarthy Sub on.svg 62'
PR18 Sadhbh McGrath Sub on.svg 62'
SR19 Ruth Campbell Sub on.svg 71'
BR20 Brittany Hogan Sub on.svg 24'
SH21 Emily Lane Sub on.svg 52'
CE22 Enya Breen Sub on.svg 62'
CE23 Nancy McGillivray Sub on.svg 62'
Coach:
Flag of England.svg Scott Bemand
FB15 Amàlia Argudo Sub off.svg 66'
RW14 Claudia Pérez
OC13 Clàudia Peña
IC12 Claudia Cano
LW11 Clara Piquero
FH10 Zahia Pérez
SH9 Anne Fernández de Corres Sub off.svg 71'
N88 Valentina Pérez
OF7 Ana Peralta
BF6 Lia Piñeiro Sub off.svg 68'
RL5 Elena Martínez Sub off.svg 52'
LL4 Lourdes Alameda (cc)Sub off.svg 71'
TP3 Eider García Sub off.svg 44'
HK2 Marieta Román Sub off.svg 56'
LP1 Gemma Silva Sub off.svg 59'
Replacements:
HK16 Cristina Blanco Sub on.svg 56'
PR17 Laura Delgado (cc)Sub on.svg 59'
PR18 Mireia De Andres Sub on.svg 44'
SR19 Anna Puig Sub on.svg 71'
SR20 Monica Castelo Sub on.svg 52'
BR21 Nerea García Sub on.svg 68'
SH22 Bingbing Vergara Sub on.svg 71'
CE23 Lea Ducher Sub on.svg 66'
Coach:
Flag of Spain.svg 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  Flag of New Zealand.svg62–19Flag of Japan.svg  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]
FB15 Braxton Sorensen-McGee
RW14 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
OC13 Stacey Waaka Sub off.svg 40'Sub on.svg 41'
IC12 Sylvia Brunt Sub off.svg 40'
LW11 Katelyn Vaha'akolo
FH10 Ruahei Demant (cc)Sub off.svg 41'
SH9 Risi Pouri-Lane Sub off.svg 41'
N88 Layla Sae Sub off.svg 53'
OF7 Jorja Miller
BF6 Kennedy Tukuafu Sub off.svg 41'
RL5 Alana Bremner (cc)
LL4 Maia Roos
TP3 Tanya Kalounivale Sub off.svg 46'
HK2 Georgia Ponsonby Sub off.svg 51'
LP1 Chryss Viliko Sub off.svg 51'
Replacements:
HK16 Atlanta Lolohea Sub on.svg 51'
PR17 Kate Henwood Sub on.svg 51'
PR18 Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu Sub on.svg 46'
SR19 Laura Bayfield Yellow card.svg 43'Red card.svg 67'Sub on.svg 41'
BR20 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u Sub on.svg 53'
SH21 Maia Joseph Sub on.svg 41'
FB22 Renee Holmes Sub on.svg 40'
CE23 Theresa Setefano Sub on.svg 40'
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Allan Bunting
FB15 Sora Nishimura Sub off.svg 1'
RW14 Sakurako Hatada
OC13 Mana Furuta
IC12 Haruka Hirotsu Yellow card.svg 39'Sub off.svg 66'
LW11 Komachi Imakugi
FH10 Ayasa Ōtsuka
SH9 Moe Tsukui Sub off.svg 53'
N88 Seina Saito Sub off.svg 53'
OF7 Iroha Nagata (c)
BF6 Masami Kawamura
RL5 Otoka Yoshimura Sub off.svg 53'
LL4 Yuna Sato
TP3 Wako Kitano Sub off.svg 69'
HK2 Asuka Kuge Sub off.svg 58'
LP1 Sachiko Kato Sub off.svg 58'
Replacements:
HK16 Kotomi Taniguchi Sub on.svg 58'
PR17 Manami Mine Sub on.svg 58'
PR18 Nijiho Nagata Sub on.svg 69'
SR19 Ayano Sakurai Sub on.svg 53'
BR20 Jennifer Nduka Sub on.svg 53'
SH21 Megumi Abe Sub on.svg 53'
FH22 Minori Yamamoto Sub on.svg 1'
CE23 Kanako Kobayashi Sub on.svg 66'
Coach:
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 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)

Japan vs Spain

7 September 2025
12:00 BST (UTC+1)
Japan  Flag of Japan.svgvFlag of Spain.svg  Spain
York Community Stadium, York
Referee: Sara Cox (England) [12]

New Zealand vs Ireland

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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 4 @rugbyworldcup; (3 August 2025). "From champions to newcomers" . Retrieved 3 August 2025– via Instagram.
  5. ↑ "New Zealand team overview". Rugby World Cup. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  6. ↑ "Ireland team overview". Rugby World Cup. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "Japan team overview" . Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  8. ↑ "Spain team overview". Rugby World Cup. 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.