What to watch in women’s rugby: World Cup pool draw

The countdown to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England will pick up pace this week as the pools for the tournament are confirmed.

Sixteen teams have made sure of their progress to the expanded tournament, and they will find out the identity of their pool-stage opponents on Thursday.

On Saturday, meanwhile, we may get a glimpse of some of the players who will light up the World Cup as title contenders Bristol Bears and Saracens come face-to-face in the third round of Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR).

You can watch all that and more live and for free on RugbyPass TV.

Watch England 2025 pool draw

We will take another sizeable step towards Women’s RWC 2025 on Thursday when the pools are drawn live on the BBC and RugbyPass TV.

After the full 16-team line-up was finalised at the end of WXV 2024 last weekend, the teams are now waiting to know who they will play in England next August and September.

The qualified nations have been seeded and divided into four bands for the draw, depending on their position in Monday’s World Rugby Women’s Rankings.

WXV 1 winners England are the No1 seeds and have been joined in the top band by Canada, reigning world champions New Zealand and France.

In band two, WXV 2 champions Australia head into the draw alongside, Ireland, Scotland and Italy – who climbed above USA at the last possible moment.

The Women’s Eagles were the big losers of the final weekend of WXV, their defeat to Ireland dropping them into the third band for Thursday’s draw alongside Wales, Japan and South Africa.

Spain, who won WXV 3 in dramatic fashion, find themselves in band four with Samoa, Fiji and Brazil – at No42 the lowest ranked nation in the tournament.

Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi will join BBC Sport’s Gabby Logan and a presenter from The One Show to draw one team from each band into each pool.

You can find out who gets drawn into which pool live and for free globally via RugbyPass TV from 19:19 BST (GMT+1).

Thursday, October 17th

19:19 BST (GMT+1) – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Draw – WATCH LIVE HERE

Saracens head to Bear country

The PWR season might only be two weeks old but round three looks like it could be a potentially pivotal one on the road to next year’s final at StoneX Stadium.

On Saturday, last season’s semi-finalists go head-to-head as Bristol Bears host Saracens at Ashton Gate before Gloucester-Hartpury take on Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm.

You can watch the first of those live and for free on RugbyPass TV, except in the UK, Ireland, Canada and USA.

Hosts Bears came agonisingly close to claiming their first PWR title in June leading Gloucester-Hartpury at half-time only to lose in Exeter.

And their quest for a return to the showpiece match got underway with a comfortable 46-19 defeat of Loughborough Lightning on October 5th. Having sat out round two they will be keen to win their first home match of the season.

Bristol’s cause could be boosted by the return of some of their England contingent, a scenario facing Saracens head coach Alex Austerberry as well.

Saracens head into the match with two wins from two so far this season, having followed up a 38-29 victory against Trailfinders Women on the opening weekend with a 52-14 win at Sale.

Their quest for a first top-flight title since 2022 has been given an extra incentive this week with the news that they will host the showpiece match in March.

Saturday, October 19th

12:00 BST – Bristol Bears v Saracens, Ashton Gate – WATCH LIVE HERE