Women's Rugby World Cup Predictions 2025: FloRugby Staff Picks
Women's Rugby World Cup Predictions 2025: FloRugby Staff Picks
The FloRugby staff picks the winner of the Women's Rugby World Cup.
Over the course of the next month, the world will learn which country is the home of the best women’s rugby team at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup.
Since the Black Ferns of New Zealand won the 2021 Women’s World Cup, it has been England’s dominant squad that has mostly reigned supreme in the women’s rugby rankings.
The Red Roses have won every Women’s Six Nations since 2019 and have won via a Grand Slam every year except for the COVID season of 2021.
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The wrinkle women’s international rugby has that the men’s side doesn’t is a major North American presence.
Canada is the No. 2 women’s rugby team in the world, second only to England.
Meanwhile, USA Rugby may have the most recognizable—men’s or women’s—rugby player in the world: Ilona Maher. The Eagles won bronze in Olympic Rugby Sevens in 2024, and Maher was one of the breakout stars of the Paris Games.
Of course, there’s also the world’s top rugby nation that no doubt will have a say in what happens in England over the next month.
New Zealand is the No. 3 team in the world but has won the World Cup six times, including the last two.
All in all, only three countries have won the Women’s Rugby World Cup since 1991.
The first, in 1991, was won by the United States. England has won twice, going 20 years between wins (1994, 2014), and the Black Ferns have captured all the rest.
At FloRugby, we’re kind of nuts about the sport (and fans can watch free archived women’s matches on the platform and on our YouTube account), so we have some thoughts about who will win it all.
Here are our staff predictions:
Women’s Rugby World Cup Predictions: Here’s Who Is Winning
- Joe Harrington, FloRugby Content Manager: Canada
- Leah Audrain, FloSports Content Creator: Canada
- R.R. Ellis, FloSports Content Specialist: England
- Philip Bendon, FloRugby Analyst: England
- Emma Hutchinson, FloSports Content Creator: Canada
Why England Rugby Will Win The 2025 Women's World Cup
The Red Roses are ranked No. 1 in the world and have dominated international rugby since the last World Cup, winning every Women’s Six Nations since 2019.
England's pack is considered the most powerful in the game. The rolling maul and set-piece efficiency make England nearly impossible to stop close to the try line.
Revenge also plays a role.
England lost narrowly to New Zealand in the 2021 World Cup final. That disappointment fuels a veteran group determined to finally reclaim the trophy.
Why Canada Rugby Will Win The 2025 Women's World Cup
Canada enters the tournament ranked No. 2 in the world, the team's highest standing in years.
The Canadians consistently closed the gap on England, the long-time dominant side, and recently defeated top-tier opponents, showing they can compete with anyone.
Canada’s scrum and line-out are among the most powerful in the women’s game. The team's physical dominance up front allows the squad to control possession and dictate tempo, a key factor in knockout rugby.
The Canucks consistently have been semifinalists, but they've often fallen short of the final hurdle.
With England missing key players through injury, and New Zealand going through transition after back-to-back titles, the door is open wider than ever.
Why The Black Ferns Will Win The 2025 Women's World Cup
The Black Ferns have won six World Cups, including the last two in 2017 and 2021. No other team has shown the same ability to peak on the game’s biggest stage.
New Zealand plays the most dynamic brand of rugby in the women’s game. The team's ability to score tries from anywhere on the field, with pace and skill across the backline, separates the Black Ferns from other contenders.
Super Rugby Aupiki has become a breeding ground for elite players, giving the Black Ferns a steady supply of young stars who are battle-tested before reaching the international level.
Also, when was the last time, men's or women's, that a back-to-back rugby world cup winner is an underdog to win it all (Rassie Erasmus also wants to know)?
Ranked No. 3 behind England and Canada, New Zealand enters with something to prove.
Playing without the No. 1 target on their backs could free the Black Ferns to play their best rugby.
USA Rugby Women's World Cup Prediction
The Eagles enter the Women’s Rugby World Cup as the dark horse, and while there's potential to disrupt the top contenders, the team is not yet at the level of England, Canada or New Zealand. Here’s what they can do:
Push For Knockout Stage Qualification
The Eagles are ranked just outside the top tier but have the talent to reach the quarterfinals. Their pool-play performance will be key in determining how deep they can go.
Rely On Star Power
Ilona Maher, one of the most recognizable players in the sport, brings leadership and visibility. Her presence, alongside other experienced internationals, could provide big moments in tight matches.
Draw From Sevens Success
With several crossover players from the Olympic bronze-medal-winning sevens program, the Eagles have speed and fitness that can trouble teams in open play.
Test The Top Sides
While the Eagles aren’t favorites to win it all, they are capable of challenging the top teams and possibly pulling an upset that shifts the knockout bracket.
Women's Rugby World Cup Sleepers: These Teams Can Be Disrupters
France
Always competitive, France has reached five World Cup semifinals in a row but has never made the final.
The team is ranked No. 4 in the world and has the defense and discipline to upset anyone, though consistency remains a challenge.
Australia (Wallaroos)
Ranked No. 6, the Wallaroos have a mix of young talent and veterans from Super W. They often play their best against New Zealand and have the attacking flair to surprise in a knockout game.
Wales
With improved investment from the Welsh Rugby Union, Wales has begun closing the gap on the top teams.
The group is not expected to contend for the title, but a quarterfinal run and a big upset are within reach.
Italy
Ranked inside the top 10, Italy has upset higher-ranked sides in past Six Nations campaigns.
Italy lacks depth compared to England or France but is well-structured and capable of catching teams off guard.
What About South Africa Women's Rugby?
Well, unlike the Springboks on the men's side, the women's team in South Africa has not found much success. The Springbok Women are outside the top 10 of the rankings at No. 12 .
The Springbok Women have benefitted from recent investment by the South African Rugby Union, with more international fixtures and a stronger domestic structure than in past cycles. That foundation is beginning to close the gap.
Their realistic goal is to advance from pool play and test themselves against the likes of Wales, Italy or Scotland. Pulling off a quarterfinal appearance would be considered a major success.
How To Watch The 2025 Rugby Women’s World Cup
The Rugby Women’s World Cup is streaming in the United States on Paramount+ with select games airing on CBS Sports Network.
Rugby Women's World Cup Schedule And Fixtures
Friday, Aug. 22, 2025
- 2:30 PM ET, England vs. USA
Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025
- 7 AM ET, Australia vs. Samoa
- 9:45 AM ET, Scotland vs. Wales
- 12:30 PM ET, Canada vs. Fiji
- 3:15 PM ET, France vs. Italy
Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025
- 7:00 AM ET, Ireland vs. Japan
- 9:45 AM ET, South Africa vs. Brazil
- 12:30 PM ET, New Zealand vs. Spain
Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025
- 7 AM ET, Canada vs. Wales
- 9:45 AM ET, Scotland vs. Fiji
- Noon ET, England vs. Samoa
- 2:30 PM ET, USA vs. Australia
Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025
- 7 AM ET, Ireland vs. Spain
- 9 AM ET, New Zealand vs. Japan
- 10:30 AM ET, Italy vs. South Africa
- 11:45 AM ET, France vs. Brazil
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025
- 7 AM ET, Canada vs. Scotland
- 8:30 AM ET, USA vs. Samoa
- 9:45 AM ET, Wales vs. Fiji
- Noon ET, England vs. Australia
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025
- 7 AM ET, Japan vs. Spain
- 9 AM ET, Italy vs. Brazil
- 9:45 AM ET, New Zealand vs. Ireland
- 11:45 AM ET, France vs. South Africa
Women's Rugby World Cup Pools
Pool A
- England
- Australia
- USA
- Samoa
Pool B
- Canada
- Scotland
- Wales
- Fiji
Pool C
- New Zealand
- Ireland
- Japan
- Spain
Pool D
- France
- Italy
- South Africa
- Brazil
Women's Rugby World Cup Rankings
- England - 97.76
- Canada - 90.13
- New Zealand - 88.74
- France - 85.72
- Ireland - 78.81
- Australia - 76.31
- Italy - 76.06
- Scotland - 75.33
- Wales - 72.18
- USA - 72.05
- Japan - 68.83
- South Africa - 68.04
- Spain - 63.31
- Fiji - 59.98
- Samoa - 59.72
- Hong Kong China - 57.56
- Netherlands - 57.42
- Russia - 55.10
- Kazakhstan - 53.88
- Kenya - 50.68
- Sweden - 49.31
- Germany - 49.03
- Portugal - 48.12
- Belgium - 47.28
- Brazil - 45.96
- Tonga - 43.53
- China - 43.34
- Mexico - 43.20
- Uganda - 42.68
- Trinidad & Tobago - 42.43
- Madagascar - 42.34
- Croatia - 41.96
- Finland - 41.78
- Colombia - 41.68
- Andorra - 40.89
- Tunisia - 40.84
- Cameroon - 40.70
- Jamaica - 39.98
- Latvia - 39.94
- Romania - 39.86
- Czechia - 38.56
- Bulgaria - 36.23
- Norway - 35.89
- Papua New Guinea - 35.41
- Denmark - 34.68
- Singapore - 34.06
- Zambia - 33.95
- Guyana - 33.63
- Senegal - 33.16
- Zimbabwe - 32.71
- Bosnia & Herzegovina - 32.00
- India - 31.60
- Thailand - 30.35
- Cote D'Ivoire - 29.85
- Switzerland - 29.46
- Uzbekistan - 29.40
- Burkina Faso - 29.32
- Cayman Islands - 28.95
- Botswana - 27.30
- Philippines - 27.16
- Luxembourg - 26.83
- Namibia - 26.14
- Serbia - 25.79
- Barbados - 24.06
- St Vincent and the Grenadines - 22.71
- Bahamas - 21.67
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
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