Women’s Rugby World Cup: Unstoppable England and More in Week 1

The Women’s Rugby World Cup Takes Off with Excitement and Surprises

After three years of waiting, the Women’s Rugby World Cup has finally arrived in England. The tournament has begun with a series of exciting matches and surprising results, promising a championship full of action and memorable moments. The tournament’s start was marked by an impressive victory for the Red Roses, who dominated the United States with a resounding score of 69-7 at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. The excitement didn’t stop there. Australia secured their biggest victory in World Cup history, while Scotland defeated Wales. In addition, Brazil made their tournament debut, and the Black Ferns were forced to give their all.

The Key Themes of the Inaugural Weekend

Here’s a summary of the highlights from the opening weekend:

• Will the favorites, England, keep their cool?
• Ilona Maher’s follow-up
• The highlight
• Other important stories

Can England Keep Patience?

The expectation surrounding the Red Roses team is unavoidable. The rugby public adores them, and the cheers and roars that greeted each player in Sunderland resonated throughout the stadium. Ellie Kildunne was the most popular, closely followed by Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir, and Emily Scarratt. The team has had to deal with disappointment since the 2022 World Cup final and the pressure to perform in their home tournament.

We want to increase the pressure and be stronger in our defense. All the threats that came to us were the ones we expected. They pursue us, and we love that they pursue us.

John Mitchell, England head coach

England defeated the United States in their opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup on Friday. Coach John Mitchell mentioned that each team will seek an extra “10 or 15%” to try to knock them off their pedestal. England’s depth and talent are the envy of all other nations. Getting the first victory was key, and they are expected to comfortably beat Samoa. The real challenge could come in the semi-finals, so they must control their impatience. So far, they seem to be handling the pressure brilliantly. Their captain, Zoe Aldcroft, is the personification of calm, and they will continue to repeat their mantra of “taking things one game at a time” until, they hope, September 27th.

Ilona Maher’s Following

Those who attended the match between England and the United States on Friday not only witnessed the start of the tournament, but also saw Ilona Maher in her first XV World Cup. A great ovation resounded in Sunderland when his name was announced before the match. Although the United States struggled, Maher had standout moments, with impressive tackles and notable runs, including one in which he charged with two English defenders, advancing about 20 meters. The excitement on social media has been palpable since the match. “Maher-mania” has officially arrived.

Highlight: Ellie Kildunne’s Magic

The pure magic of Ellie Kildunne setting the stage for Jess Breach.

Pure Ellie Kildunne magic to set-up Jess Breach. 🤩✨#BBCRugby #RWC2025 pic.twitter.com/Ie0CvHjn8f

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 24, 2025

Other Important Stories

Brazil’s Debut at the Women’s Rugby World Cup: Brazil played their first match at the Women’s Rugby World Cup on Sunday, losing 66-6 against South Africa in Northampton. The South American team has recruited heavily from its sevens program, with 11 Olympians in the squad. Although they were outmatched by South Africa, qualification marks a great moment for Brazil as a rugby nation and is a sign of the growth of the sport worldwide. They will face European powerhouse France in Exeter next week, before finishing their Group D campaign against Italy in Northampton on September 7.Scotland Puts Aside Off-Field Issues: Scotland made the difference with a significant 38-8 victory over Wales on Saturday, amid uncertainty about some players. Francesca McGhie scored a hat-trick in the victory with six tries, bringing Scotland closer to securing their place in the quarter-finals, but their off-field situation has dominated the preparation, with problems in the players’ contracts. Player Rhona Lloyd has said that “more than half” of the World Cup team will not have a contract at the end of the tournament. It may be a distraction off the field, but on it, Scotland made a big statement with the victory against Wales.The Haka: Spectacular! New Zealand performs the Haka before the start of the match against Spain in their Women’s Rugby World Cup encounter.The Black Ferns: The Black Ferns began the defense of their Women’s Rugby World Cup title with a 54-8 victory over Spain. Although the score suggests a relatively comfortable afternoon for the Black Ferns, it was not so, as the crowd of 7,458 people enjoyed an entertaining afternoon of rugby that saw New Zealand reduced to 13 players.The Wallaroos’ Heroine: The Wallaroos kicked off their World Cup with a 73-0 thrashing of Samoa in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Manchester, with star Desiree Miller scoring a hat-trick on her World Cup debut. Miller was everywhere during the match, moving from her left wing to the right on several occasions, before finishing three impressive team-work tries. They hope she recovers from a head knock in time for their decisive tournament clash against the United States on Saturday. Her 18-year-old teammate, Caitlyn Halse, was also very impressive on her World Cup debut, scoring two and setting up her teammates for several more. Meanwhile, center Cecilia Smith took Player of the Match honors for her great performance. Playing only a few minutes throughout the 2021 tournament (played in 2022), Smith played all 80 minutes on Saturday and will be vital to the Wallaroos’ progress to the quarter-finals.