2025 Rugby World Cup Pools Announced, Germany’s Strong Start | WRR 176

Women’s Rugby 7s News

Domestic

• Brazil’s Super Sevens had their second stop in Jacareí and Melina beat Saint Joseph 19-0 and leads the series overall [link]
• Costa Blanca claimed the Kenya Safari 7s title on October 13, edging out the Kenyan National Team 24-10 in a thrilling final at Machakos Stadium [link]

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

•  Pools Unveiled for Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 [link]
  • Pool A: England, Australia, USA, Samoa
    • Hosts and current number one team in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings, England, are set to face Australia, USA, and Samoa in Pool A
  • Pool B: Canada, Scotland, Wales, Fiji
    • Pool B sees Canada, the world’s number two team, leading the pack, but they face a fascinating challenge with the wildcard Fiji, alongside familiar Six Nations rivals Scotland and Wales
  • Pool C; New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, Spain
    • Reigning champions New Zealand headline Pool C with a score to settle against Ireland after a recent WXV loss, facing a determined Irish side along with Japan and Spain, both eager to make their mark
  • Pool D: France, Italy, South Africa, Brazil
    • Pool D features a clash of giants as France and Italy prepare for a fierce European showdown, while they also face challenges from a reinvigorated South Africa and debutants Brazil, eager to make their mark at the Women’s Rugby World Cup
• A six-try second half, highlighted by captain Mette Zimmat’s hat-trick, powered Germany to a 44-10 comeback win over Finland, kicking off their 2024/25 European Trophy campaign [link]
• Three-time Olympian Charlotte Caslick, along with Maddison and Teagan Levi, has shown interest in a cross-code switch, a move that would be a major boost for the Wallaroos ahead of the Rugby World Cup [link]
• Sene Naoupu, a Semoa New Zealander and former Irish International has been appointed CEO of North Otago Rugby, marking her as the first Pasifika female to lead a New Zealand Rugby Provincial Union [link]
• Another European Trophy match kicks off upcoming fixtures, with the Elgon Cup starting November 2 and Netherlands facing Brazil in a series beginning November 29 [link]

Premier & Club

• Wicklow and Railway Union kept their winning streaks alive at the top of the Energia AIL, securing crucial away victories against Suttonians and Blackrock College [link]
• Corstorphine remains undefeated at the top of the Arnold Clark Premiership, while fourth-place Watsonians took down second-place Stirling County, leaving three teams now tied at 32 points [link]
• ASM Romagnat leads France’s Elite 1, staying unbeaten alongside fellow undefeated teams Toulouse and Bordeaux [link]
  • It was also announced that several Elite 1 matches will be broadcast on Canal+Sport [link]
• Gent remains at the top of Belgium’s Senior Ladies 1, staying unbeaten alongside Boitsfort after four rounds [link]
• Saracens and Exeter remain undefeated after three rounds of the PWR, with a tight race at the top as five teams sit within a few points of each other [link]
  • Saracens and Premiership Women’s Rugby are thrilled to confirm that StoneX Stadium in North London will host the Premiership Women’s Rugby final on Sunday 16th March 2025 [link]
• We’ve updated our USA Club Rugby standings, in D1 [link]:
  • Midwest: Four teams have locked their spots in for the SFs but seeding will be determined this weekend
  • Atlantic: NOVA remains in first place and undefeated, Raleigh leapfrogged Boston and Philly moved up to third
  • Red River, Frontier, SoCal, Pacific NW, all are yet to start
• We’ve updated our USA Club Rugby D2 standings [link]:
  • Midwest: Cleveland moves to first in MW Central, Twin Cities takes second in the West, and Oconomowoc jumps to fifth
  • MARFU: Patriots now third
  • Capital: Severn River claims the top spot, NOVA moves to second
  • Empire: New Haven and Danbury swap places
  • EPRU: Harrisburg climbs to first, Monmouth takes second
  • Carolinas East: Charlotte jumps into first, Southern Pines down to second
  • True South, NERFU, Carolinas West: No changes
  • Red River, SoCal, NorCal, Pacific NW, Southwest are yet to begin
• WER has extended the player declaration period to October 26th at 8PM EST, giving time for the announcement of head coaches for each market [link]
• Nigeria has launched a National League to promote rugby across its six geopolitical zones, starting with the South-West League, where Gosar leads Eco II and Nigeria Police after two rounds [link]
• A few leagues will begin next week:
  • The Nan Fung Group | AIRSIDE Premiership kicks off with an expanded lineup of seven women’s teams, each facing off twice over 15 match weeks, as reigning champions Societe Generale Valley aim to defend their title [link]
  • Spain’s Iberdrola begins with Majadahonda looking to defend their crown after sweeping last year’s titles, including the Iberdrola, Iberian and Super Cups [link]
  • Italy’s Serie A Elite begins with defending champions Villorba and newly promoted Volvera ready to compete [link]

Women’s Rugby Features

• Meet Seán Ryan, the man responsible for quietly transforming the culture of the Ireland women’s team [link]
• Hope Rodgers Makes History As 50th Cap For USA Women’s Eagles [link]
• We continue out Pioneer of the Pitch series:
  • Late Bloomer to Rugby Champion: The Lisa Kelly Story [link]
  • Kathleen Riebe: Balancing Teaching, Senate, and Rugby [link]
• Going backwards to go forwards – 2024 shows how far the Wallaroos have to go – and how high they could fly at the World Cup [link]
• Black History Month: Visible role models are crucial says Simi Pam [link]
• Christiana Balogun: Rugby kept me going during treatment for ‘aggressive’ cancer [link]
• Zainab Alema scores to smash more stereotypes [link]
• USA Club Rugby Sees a Huge Spike in Membership Numbers [link]
• This week’s #WRRHighlight reel showcases Princeton’s quick hands, Harvard’s counterattack, Navy’s big break, and West Chester’s untouched score [link]
• Dr. Victoria Campbell, Scotland Women Team Doctor, talks through a career that has taken her all around the world [link]
• Laura Delgado’s WXV 3 Diary: ‘The most important trophy of them all’ [link]
• Can anyone stop dominant England winning World Cup? [link]

Women’s Rugby Media

• Back The Girls: returned with a new host as Gemma and Rhiana recap the past year of Welsh women’s rugby, share what’s next for the podcast, and answer listener questions [link]
• US Rugby Happy Hour: recently earning her 50th cap, 2 off from the most ever in an women’s Eagle jersey, Hope Rogers joins Bill & Fitzy to talk about this monumental moment, and the emotions of receiving that jersey and cap from the current leader in caps Jamie Burke, with 51 [link]
• The Women’s Rugby Show: Episode 30 previewed the PWR clash between Bristol and Saracens [link]
• GOOD SCAZ RUGBY: Scaz & Mo are back… fresh off the plane from Canada & they’ve brought two front row friends with them, in Hannah Botterman & Amy Cokayne [link]
• Amelia MacDougall: The perfect ten and playing for her childhood club [link]
• Poi Stories: In Episode 3, Black Ferns and NZ Sevens stars Amy Du Plessis, Stacey Waaka, and Shiray Kaka share their unique rugby journeys, connected by their continued practice and the shared tradition of Waiata [link]
• The Power Pod: Philippa and Nick cover Round 2 of the PWR which saw three teams score over 50 points as 41 tries rained in over the weekend [link]
• The Scrum of the Earth:Rugby Julia Returns to Chat WXV and All Things Women’s Rugby [link]