Red Roses march on

ENGLAND will face Australia, USA, and Samoa in the pool stages of next year’s World Cup. The Red Roses, who are top of the world rankings and on a 20-match winning streak following their WXV triumph, are favourites to go one better than they did in New Zealand in 2022.

If the top-seeded team win each pool, England could only meet world number twos Canada or defending champions New Zealand in the final.

Ireland, who claimed a famous win over New Zealand this month, are grouped with the Black Ferns, Japan and Spain after failing to qualify for the previous tournament.

England face a potential quarter-final against the runners-up from the pool containing Scotland and Wales – drawn together for the second straight tournament – Canada and Fiji.

France are England’s likeliest semi-final opponents. They, who along with the Red Roses, Canada and New Zealand were top seeds, are in a group with Italy, South Africa and Brazil.

The tournament begins on August 22 with the final at Twickenham on September 27.

World Cup 2025 draw Pool A: England, Australia, USA, Samoa Pool B: Canada, Scotland, Wales, Fiji Pool C: New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, Spain Pool D: France, Italy, South Africa, Brazil