Road to the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025: The Qualification Path Revealed
World Rugby has officially outlined the path that the women’s national teams must take to secure their spot in the upcoming World Cup to be held in England in 2025. This selection process involves participation in the second edition of the WXV in 2024, a competition that had its debut last season and promises to be a crucial competitive stage for the contenders. The venues for this competition are spread across Canada (Level 1), South Africa (Level 2), and Dubai (Level 3), unfolding over three exciting matchdays:
- First Round: Friday, September 27 – Sunday, September 29
- Second Round: Friday, October 4 – Sunday, October 6
- Third Round: Friday, October 11 – Sunday, October 13
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Already in the Race to the World Cup
Four teams have already secured their place in this prestigious tournament thanks to their outstanding performance in the semifinals of the World Cup in New Zealand 2021. Among these are the current champions and hosts, the Black Ferns of New Zealand, the team from England, which took home the silver in addition to being the champions of the Women’s Six Nations and the inaugural WXV, along with France and Canada.
The Qualification Process
Moreover, six teams will gain their qualification as champions of regional tournaments to be held in 2024. These tournaments span various regions and competitions:
- Asia Rugby Women’s Championship: featuring Japan, Hong Kong China, and Kazakhstan.
- Guinness Women’s Six Nations: where Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and Italy will compete, despite England and France already being qualified.
- Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship: will see competition from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tonga.
- Pacific Four Series: includes New Zealand and Canada, already qualified, along with Australia and USA.
- Rugby Africa Women’s Cup: with teams such as South Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, and Cameroon.
- South America play-off.
The final six spots will be awarded to the best-ranked teams in the WXV that have not yet qualified through other means. This is where teams like Las Leonas have the opportunity to shine and secure their place among the top 16 rugby nations in the world.
This detailed qualification process not only promises exciting matchups on the road to the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 but also highlights the growing competitive level and importance of women’s rugby worldwide. The route is clear, and the contenders are already strategizing to conquer one of the most prestigious stages in international sports.
With six spots up for grabs for the World Cup, earning a place in each of the WXV groups has never been more critical. The race kicks off in March, with every team setting their sights on securing one of the 18 available spots through their regional competitions, aiming for a chance to compete in the England World Cup.
Level 1:
- Top 3 from the Six Nations
- Top 3 from the Pacific Four Series
Level 2:
- Winner of the Africa Women’s Cup
- Winner of the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship
- 4th and 5th from the Six Nations
- Winner of the playoff between the 6th from the Six Nations and the champion of the Rugby Europe Women’s Championship
- 4th from the Pacific Four Series
Level 3:
- 2nd from the Africa Women’s Cup
- 2nd from the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship
- Loser of the playoff between the 6th from the Six Nations and the champion of the Rugby Europe Women’s Championship
- 1st and 2nd from the Oceania Women’s Championship
- Winner of the playoff between the Netherlands and Colombia (after Ireland’s victory in the WXV 3 in 2023, Europe earns the right to compete for the spot)