Introduction
The 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup was held in England from August 20 to September 5, 2010. It was the sixth edition of the tournament and marked the second time England hosted the event. Organized by the International Rugby Board (IRB), the competition brought together 12 national teams competing over 16 days.
The pool matches were played at the Surrey Sports Park in Guildford, while the semi-finals and finals were staged at The Stoop in Twickenham.
The tournament saw record-breaking crowds and worldwide television coverage in over 127 countries, showing the growing popularity of the women’s game.
In an intense and dramatic final, New Zealand defeated England 13–10, capturing their fourth consecutive world title and solidifying their reputation as the dominant force in women’s rugby.
Participating Teams
Twelve teams qualified for the 2010 tournament through regional competitions and previous World Cup rankings.
Qualified Nations:
- Oceania: New Zealand, Australia
- Europe: England, France, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Sweden
- Americas: Canada, United States
- Asia: Kazakhstan
- Africa: South Africa
Host Nation: 🏴 England
Pool Stage
The 12 teams were divided into three pools (A–C) of four teams each.
Each team played three matches, and the three pool winners and the best runner-up advanced to the semi-finals.
Pool A
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 128 | 16 | +112 | 3 | 15 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 93 | 44 | +49 | 2 | 10 |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 127 | -109 | 0 | 4 |
| 🏴 Wales | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 30 | 82 | -52 | 1 | 1 |
Pool B
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏴 England | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 146 | 10 | +136 | 3 | 15 |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 59 | 42 | +17 | 2 | 10 |
| 🇺🇸 United States | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 73 | 59 | +14 | 1 | 5 |
| 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 170 | -167 | 0 | 0 |
Pool C
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 France | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 24 | +31 | 1 | 13 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 85 | 43 | +42 | 2 | 10 |
| 🏴 Scotland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 49 | 59 | -10 | 1 | 5 |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 87 | -63 | 1 | 1 |
Highlights of the Pool Stage:
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand 55–3 South Africa: Carla Hohepa scored a hat-trick of tries.
- 🏴 England 82–0 Kazakhstan: A statement win with 12 tries.
- 🇫🇷 France 23–8 Canada: A disciplined display by the French forwards.
Knockout Stage
After the pool rounds, teams were ranked, and the top four advanced to the semi-finals.
The others played classification matches for positions 5–12.
Semi-Finals
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand 45–7 France
- 🏴 England 15–0 Australia
Bronze Final
- 🇦🇺 Australia 22–8 France
Final – September 5, The Stoop, London
New Zealand 13–10 England
In a tense, physical encounter, the Black Ferns’ experience proved decisive.
Carla Hohepa scored the only try for New Zealand, while Kelly Brazier added crucial penalties to seal the victory.
England’s Charlotte Barras crossed for their lone try, but the home side couldn’t overturn New Zealand’s defensive wall.
🏆 Champion: New Zealand (4th title)
🥈 Runner-up: England
🥉 Third place: Australia
Final Rankings
| Position | Team |
|---|---|
| 🥇 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 🥈 🏴 England | |
| 🥉 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4th 🇫🇷 France | |
| 5th 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6th 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 7th 🇮🇪 Ireland | |
| 8th 🏴 Scotland | |
| 9th 🏴 Wales | |
| 10th 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 11th 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | |
| 12th 🇸🇪 Sweden |
Outstanding Players
- Carla Hohepa (New Zealand): The tournament’s joint top try-scorer with 7 tries, combining pace and agility that defined the Black Ferns’ attack.
- Heather Moyse (Canada): Matched Hohepa’s total of 7 tries, a standout performer for Canada.
- Kelly Brazier (New Zealand): Top point scorer with 48 points, including vital penalties in the final.
- Emily Scarratt (England): Central to England’s game management, solid in defense and attack.
- Huriana Manuel (New Zealand): Key ball carrier and defensive leader throughout the tournament.