New Zealand to face Ireland in pool stage of 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup
Reigning champions New Zealand were drawn on Thursday to play against Ireland, Japan and Spain in Pool C at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup to be held in England.
New Zealand, who have won six of the nine tournaments to date, are two-time defending champions having won in 2017 and 2021 but were stunned by Ireland last month, losing 29-27 in their opening WXV match in Vancouver.
Two-time World Cup winners England lost the 2021 final 34-31 but they beat Canada on Saturday to win the WXV title and are currently ranked the top side in the world.
They will face Australia, USA, the only other winners of the tournament having won the inaugural edition in 1991, and Samoa in Pool A.
France, who finished third in 2021, are in Pool D with Italy, South Africa and Brazil, the lowest-ranked team in the competition taking part in a World Cup for the first time.
The competition has been expanded from 12 teams to 16 with Canada, Scotland, Wales and Fiji completing the line-up in Pool B.
The World Cup begins on August 22 with the final slated to take place at Twickenham on September 27.
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