Red Roses and Black Ferns lead 2025 Rugby World Cup scrum

The other contenders have stiff opposition and financial challenges to beat in order to prevail at the Women's Rugby World Cup.

- By Keanan Hemmonsbey

The Women's Rugby World Cup gets under way in England with previous tournament finalists New Zealand and the hosts once again red-hot favourites to lift the trophy.

Outside of the first Women's Rugby World Cup in 1991 which the USA won every other tournament since then has been won by either the Black Ferns or the Red Roses. At least one of the two sides has made the final since the tournament's inception and the two sides have met at that stage on five of the eight occasions that both nations were represented at the showpiece event.

England, though, edge the favourites scale despite New Zealand having won six Women's Rugby World Cup trophies to their two.

Since the final of the 2021 World Cup, played on 12 November 2022 (it was held a year later because of Covid-19), which the Red Roses lost 34-31 at Eden Park after being up 14-0 in the opening quarter, they have not lost a single rugby match in an incredible unbeaten run. This includes winning the Grand Slam in the Six Nations every year.

Not only that, they've added to their leadership structures with the addition of seasoned former Lions (Johannesburg version) and All Blacks coach John Mitchell.

But New Zealand, in their aspirations of claiming a third successive Women's Rugby World Cup title (and a seventh in the last eight editions), will point out that the Red Roses had similarly strong form headed into the previous World Cup final and still fell short.

At that juncture, England were on a 30-match winning streak headed into the match that would secure their third Women's Rugby World Cup title.

England are in Pool A alongside Australia, the United States and Samoa, in a group they should have no problem getting through. Outside of the fact that they are the best side in the world, according to World Rugby rankings, they have also never lost a Women's Rugby World Cup pool match since the tournament's inception.