Australia will get a chance to work its way into next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, avoiding a blockbuster opening clash with raging favourites England.
Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp, a former England captain who played at three World Cups, has also sidestepped an early showdown with her birth country, currently on a 20-match winning streak.
Instead the Wallaroos will start their tournament with a clash against the lowest ranked team in their pool, world number 15 Samoa, on Saturday August 23 in Manchester.
Wallaroos’ 2025 World Cup schedule
Saturday, August 23: Vs Samoa at Salford Community Stadium, Manchester (9:00pm AEST)Sunday, August 31: Vs USA at York Community Stadium, York (4:30am AEST)Sunday, September 7: Vs England at Brighton and Hove Stadium, Brighton and Hove (2:00am AEST)
With the schedule for the month-long tournament released by World Rugby on Tuesday, top-ranked England will open against the United States in Sunderland.
The Wallaroos then meet the USA in York (August 31) and England (September 7) in Brighton and Hove, needing two wins from their three games to advance to the quarterfinals with only the top two teams moving on.
Ranked fifth after their WXV2 tournament win earlier this month in South Africa, Australia has never beaten England and was eliminated by the Red Roses in the quarterfinals of the last World Cup in 2022.
Guided by former All Blacks coach John Mitchell, England’s sole defeat in its last 51 matches was the most painful of all — the narrow World Cup final loss to New Zealand in Auckland.
The Wallaroos lost 32-25 to world number nine United States, coached by long-time Australia assistant Sione Fukofuka, in Melbourne in May during the Pacific Four series.
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They have met Samoa only once in their Test history for an 87-0 win during a World Cup qualifier in 2009, but last month the Samoans beat an Australia A side 20-17 with a last-minute penalty.
Yapp was happy for a first-up meeting with the island nation.
“No match is going to be easy in this World Cup regardless of who we drew in the pool stage,” Yapp said.
“We’re happy with the schedule and the opportunity to play Samoa in the opening round.
“Samoa will be a tough opponent early and help us set a standard for the rest of the tournament.”
AAP
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