Overview

• Hosts open against the United States at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light at 7:30pm BST, with more than 43,000 tickets sold for the match, the largest Women’s Rugby World Cup crowd to date.
• The five‑week event features 16 teams and 32 matches across eight venues, concluding with a sold‑out Twickenham final expected to draw about 82,000.
• England enter on a 27‑match unbeaten run under coach John Mitchell, with Zoe Aldcroft captaining a lineup that includes Ellie Kildunne, Abby Dow and Meg Jones.
• Comprehensive coverage includes every match live on the BBC in the UK, with broadcasts and streams available in Australia on Stan Sport/9 and in North America on Paramount+ and Fubo.
• The tournament showcases rapid growth driven by stars such as the USA’s Ilona Maher, even as funding gaps persist, with officials warning of one‑sided scorelines and several squads still semi‑professional.