Well, after an extensive trial season, Super Rugby Women’s is back for its eighth iteration in 2025, and with that, comes season predictions.
While the omission of the Melbourne Rebels side remains a black mark – especially given the quality talent coming out of the Lindroth Cup – the state of affairs means that, like the men, the four Australian sides are set to be the strongest they have ever been.
If 2024 was a coming-of-age year for the Wallaroo program, 2025 looms as the most exciting year yet – the growth towards full professionalism sees established programs, retention of talent, and even better, the arrival of the next generation of stars.
That’s even before you get to the players who have made the jump across from the Sevens program – hopefully, a sign of things to come.
Jo Yapp is going to have a busy few months on her hands: never before has the women’s game had access to such depth. With a busy schedule leading up to the World Cup, there is a lot to play for – which means all Super sides will need a big season.
So, where do we see the five sides ending up come the start of finals in April?
Siokapesi Palu. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
ACT Brumbies
The Brumbies come into 2025 with the most settled squad – with two-thirds returning from 2024. The side also made the last two finals campaigns and has produced encouraging results in the trials, including putting fifty points on the Fijiana Drua.
They have a highly decorated new coach in Andy Friend, plus eight Wallaroos and three sevens stars, not to mention international players from Samoa, Fiji, the USA and Japan.
Among those in the squad include rising stars under Yapp’s tenure like loose forward Tabua Tuinakauvadra, winger Biola Dawa, and flyhalf Faitala Moleka, one of the most exciting prospects in all of Australian rugby.
Sounds promising right? Well, there are a lot of challenges in the way between the Brumbies and their maiden title.
Firstly, the side might be settled, but they also have the least amount of international experience to call upon – meaning that depth will be tested against more fancied opposition. The side has also struggled with defence previously, where the likes of the Waratahs and Drua have cut them to shreds on the counter-attack.
Lastly, similar to the men, they have the hardest draw of any team, spending their first two games on the road, and then playing at home against two of the toughest teams in the competition.
Season run: Force (A), Bye, Drua (A), Reds (H), Waratahs (H)
Despite the clear talent and a world-class coach leading them, the Brumbies are up against it in 2025. They will have to pull off some big wins away from home to make finals again, and if they do, anything is possible. Someone has to come last, and putting them here feels like a disservice. Then again, write them off at your peril.
Prediction: 5th
(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
Fijiana Drua
It’s crazy to think that making the 2024 grand final was, arguably, the sole highlight of the 2024 Fijian women’s season – and they got fifty points put on them! The international season was a disaster, with the side copping a record loss to the Wallaroos a few weeks later.
They went on to finish fourth in the WXV3 tournament to round off the year – with a win against Hong Kong their only victory in 2024. A heavy loss to Scotland was capped off with losses to the Netherlands, Spain and Samoa.
That’s even before you get to controversies off the field – such as the new women’s director of rugby being fired just four days into her tenure for inappropriate comments earlier this month.
However, 2025 is a new year – and with the side qualified for the World Cup, a chance to restart anew is always a good impetus to regain form. Having made the final in every single season since their inception, it would be bold to write off Fijiana.
The two-time champions will have 22 members of the national side to call upon for their campaign – the most international experience of any side – and a new coach in former Fijian international lock Ifereimi Rawaqa.
The side will have a lot of work to do – losses last year to the Waratahs and Rebels exposed defensive issues, and if a team can get on top, they can stay on top. With all the Australian sides looking more dangerous, the Drua must brace for a tougher season.
They also have several hard games off the bat – a grand final rematch against the Waratahs, then a resurgent Reds. While they will enjoy extensive time at home, they will be in trouble if they don’t pull off a win in the opening fortnight.
Season run: Waratahs (A), Reds (H), Brumbies (H), Bye, Force (A)
While the two trips away make for tough fixtures, the middle of the season with multiple weeks at home looms as a critical period for the Drua. Pull off two home wins in Lautoka, and they likely will squeeze into the semis. From there, anything is possible.
Prediction: 4th
Layne Morgan. Photo: Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds
What a difference a year makes! Let’s call a spade a spade: 2024 was a disaster for Queensland. From making five finals to a wooden spoon is, put simply, unacceptable.
A sole victory over the Rebels was all they could muster, the year undone by leaky defence and poor discipline. With their home ground being the literal hub of Australian women’s rugby at Ballymore, the Reds needed change.
With that, change has come. A new coach in UQ’s Andrew Fraser and a 37-strong squad stuffed with talent sets the framework for 2025 – like the men, depth is strong in Ballymore, with heavy Wallaroo recruitment a key part of getting their program back on track.
The side will call on 13 Wallaroos, plus international reps from Canada, the USA and Fiji – as well as Black Fern Cristo Taufua. Eva Karpani and Layne Morgan count among the biggest stars coming north from the Tahs, both key players under Yapp and her predecessor, Jay Tregonning.
However, what makes them dark horses comes in the form of five sevens stars, among them the ruthless combination of the Levi sisters and the heavily decorated Charlotte Caslick – who will light up the back three.
Charlotte Caslick is set for a big year in the Wallaroo program. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
While there are an additional seven potential debutants, this squad is less about blooding players. They have a key goal: to finally deliver the Reds that elusive maiden title.
The only thing that stands in their way is the opportunity for the squad to get settled – with a lightning-fast season and only four games to make an impression. Trials have yielded mixed results – and with the Reds having the bye first up they’ll need to hit the ground running in Fiji.
Season run: Bye, Drua (A), Waratahs (H), Brumbies (A), Force (H)
The Reds don’t have the benefit of multiple weeks at home – but aside from that, the chance to get two of their biggest rivals out of the way does set them up well for a good run home. Should they achieve a maiden victory over the Tahs or Drua, the side stands in good stead.
Prediction: 3rd
Trilleen Pomare. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Western Force
Something is brewing in the West. Those who have watched the off-season know that both the men’s and women’s programs have picked up steam, with clever signings and smart choices – the latest being former All Black assistant coach Leon MacDonald.
While the men under Simon Cron have hit the ground running, if you were to ask any die-hard Force fans which side is more likely to bring a Super Rugby title west in 2025, most would say the women – with good reason.
The 2024 season was a great year – a maiden semi-final berth, key signings, and critically, the emergence of Wallaroo talent out of their academy system, among them Samantha Wood and Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke.
The squad looks even better in 2025, capped off with a Japan tour and several promising trial clashes – including a thriller against the Waratahs.
While there are no Sevens stars, coach Dylan Parsons will welcome 13 Wallaroos for his second year in charge – including Trilleen Pomare, Cecilia Smith, Ashley Marsters and current Wallaroo captain Michaela Leonard.
With 15 players from local pathways in the ranks, the side will also be balanced by the likes of experienced heads like Sera Naiqama, as well as Japanese players Mio Yamanaka and Megumi Takagi, and Fijian sevens star Adi Vani Buleki.
All up, the Force has a well-put-together squad who are good enough to make a maiden title run – and they have a favourable draw, with their bye coming in the middle of the season.
Season run: Brumbies (H), Waratahs (A), Bye, Drua (H), Reds (A)
Similar to the men’s side, the Force are building a good record at home – with the likes of the Reds and Drua struggling to beat them – but are they good enough to beat the current favourites?
Prediction: 2nd
Will the Waratahs win again in 2025? (Photo by Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images)
NSW Waratahs
The five-time champions. The benchmark. A side who, across the eight years of the Super Rugby Women’s competition, have only been defeated three times – all by the Drua.
The Waratahs have sustained an incredible record in this competition, and the fact no Australian side has been able to beat them yet just shows how valuable the Jack Scott Cup in Sydney has been for Aussie women’s rugby.
However, 2025 looms as a different prospect.
Up until the 2021 season, Super Rugby Women’s felt like a two-way horse race between the Tahs and Reds, with the other sides miles behind. While it made those early seasons feel like a foregone conclusion, most diehard fans knew it was about the future, about building depth and getting those other sides up to a standard where they could compete with the Tahs.
Well, the future is here.
They will still be favourites for a sixth title, but 2025 will see the chasing pack ask a lot of questions of the Waratahs. Coming into his second season, head coach Michael Ruthven will be calling on 15 players with international experience, plus Sevens star Sariah Paki.
It is a talented squad, including the likes of Maya Stewart, Desirée Miller, Arabella McKenzie and Piper Duck. The Tahs have international options in every position – but the year also signifies a changing of the guard, with nine players in line to make their debut in Sky Blue.
Piper Duck will be a welcome return to the Australian outfit. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
Now seems like an ideal time for the blooding of talent – the Tahs will be challenged by the other Aussie sides, but at present, they still boast a strong backbone of Wallaroos.
Their preseason has shown they will be more than a handful to put away, with wins over the Brumbies and Force – but the biggest indication that they are only growing was a 36-all draw with Super Rugby Aupiki champions the Blues in Auckland.
The side will also enjoy a favourable draw, with their first two matches being in Sydney against two of the strongest competitors in the Force and Drua. However, the flip side is they will have a harder run home in the back half of the season.
Season run: Drua (H), Force (H), Reds (A), Bye, Brumbies (A)
The Waratahs will be favourites – how can they not be, given the dominance they have held in the competition?
But, unlike years gone by, they’re going to have to dig deep this time to lift the trophy. It is no longer a case of them, then daylight – 2025 is set to be arm-wrestle for the title, and it bodes well for Aussie women’s rugby.
Prediction: 1st
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