BBC Sport unveils powerhouse lineup for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

L-R: Claire Thomas, Sarra Elgan, Brian Moore, Katy Daley McLean, Deborah McCormack, Ruby Tui, Philippa Tuttiett, Ugo Monye, Gabby Logan, Maggie Alphonsi, Sonja McLaughlan, Siwan Lillicrap, Sara Orchard, Nicola McCarthy, Simon Middleton and Sene Naoupu

This summer has seen women’s sport smash through boundaries, break records and created unstoppable momentum. The Women’s Rugby Cup, hosted in England, will undoubtedly be a peak moment and place women’s rugby in the global spotlight like never before. — Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport

The Women’s Summer of Sport shows no signs of slowing and the next unmissable chapter is the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, live from England. This is the next major milestone in BBC Sport’s unrivalled summer of women’s sport coverage where Names Will Be Made. As anticipation builds both on and off the pitch, BBC Sport is the ultimate destination for the tournament – delivering exclusive all-access coverage to every try, tackle and game-changing moment across TV, iPlayer, Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport Website/app and @BBCSport social media channels. Bringing together championship-winning experience, on-the-ground reporting and the most trusted voices in the game, BBC Sport’s Women’s Rugby World Cup lineup is packed with rugby royalty. Gabby Logan and Ugo Monye lead the coverage, joined by an incredible team of pundits, commentators and inside reporters from across the game, all bringing fans closer than ever to the heart of the action. Joining the lineup is Black Ferns icon, Rugby World Cup champion and Olympic gold medallist Ruby Tui. Ruby became a household name at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 not just for her gold medal win with the women’s 7’s team but for going viral with her honest and energetic interview with BBC Sport’s Jill Douglas. Her unparalleled insight and athletic experience promises to bring a powerful energy to the tournament. Ruby Tui says: “I love a full circle moment and so much has happened in Women’s rugby since the BBC interview with Jill Douglas at Tokyo in 2021. The last Women’s Rugby World Cup was one of the most historic sporting events in the world and I can’t wait to do it again and then some this time with the BBC team.” Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, says: “This summer has seen women’s sport smash through boundaries, break records and created unstoppable momentum. The Women’s Rugby Cup, hosted in England, will undoubtedly be a peak moment and place women’s rugby in the global spotlight like never before. BBC Sport will showcase every match of it live and bring together a presenting line-up of experts who know the game inside-out.” CF

TV and iPlayer BBC Sport is the exclusive home of live coverage for every match in the tournament. Fans can watch every game live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website/app with full access from kick-off to the final whistle. All group stage matches featuring England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland will be shown live on TV along with every knockout round clash. Leading the charge, Gabby Logan and Ugo Monye head up the presenting team bringing viewers the best of the action from key venues across England. They’re joined by commentary heavyweights Sara Orchard, Andrew Cotter and Claire Thomas, with Sonja McLaughlan, Sarra Elgan and Elma Smit reporting pitch-side. Adding world-class insight are World Cup winners Maggie Alphonsi and Katy Daley-McLean, former England head coach Simon Middleton, and legendary co-commentator Brian Moore, a powerhouse team offering unrivalled expertise and behind-the-scenes perspective. Coverage of the home nations is bolstered by former Wales Captains Siwan Lillicrap and Philippa Tuttiett; Scotland internationals Deborah McCormack and Heather Lockhart and former Irish players Sene Naoupu and Anna Caplice will follow Ireland’s campaign throughout. Bringing a burst of fan energy into the mix, former England 7’s player and current Gladiators superstar Jodie Ounsley will be on site at selected matches, capturing the drama and atmosphere from inside the grounds and following England’s journey throughout the competition. The coverage kicks off on BBC One with a blockbuster opener on Friday 22 August, as Six Nations champions and host nation England take on USA at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. The opening weekend also features a must-watch clash between Scotland and Wales at Salford Community Stadium, and Ireland’s opener against Japan at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton. BBC Sport’s presentation team will be on the ground in Sunderland, Salford and Northampton on opening weekend, bringing audiences every moment from these headline fixtures.

Radio and BBC Sounds 5 Live Breakfast’s Rachel Burden kicks off the tournament with live opening day coverage from Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. BBC Radio 5 Live, Sports Extra and BBC Sounds will have live commentary of every home nation match plus both semi-finals and the final. Meanwhile Sara Orchard and Ugo Monye will be on hand regularly throughout the tournament on 5 Live and the chart-topping Rugby Union Weekly podcast. Bringing the big moments to life is the powerhouse 5 Live commentary team Claire Thomas, James Burridge, Oisin Langan, Nick Webb, Thomas Duncan and Gareth Rhys Owen. They’ll be delivering unmatched insight and pitch-side expertise throughout the tournament. Providing expert insight during England’s campaign are three World Cup winners Kat Merchant, Rachael Burford and Giselle Mather. Expect sharp analysis and big-match breakdowns from those who’ve been there and done it on the biggest stage. Alongside regular editions of the podcast fans can also tune in to a special weekly series throughout the World Cup, Barely Rugby, hosted by comedian Harriet Kemsley and featuring England stars Hannah Botterman and Meg Jones. The show blends insightful rugby chat with personality and humour, adding a fresh twist to the tournament conversation.

BBC Sport website, app & social media Audiences can expect live text commentaries, match reports, in-depth features, exclusive interviews, and highlights across the BBC Sport website and app. In addition to this, there will be behind-the-scenes content, expert analysis and all the biggest moments shared across the BBC’s social media channels. The tournament is part of the BBC’s Women’s Summer of Sport, with a dedicated hub at www.bbc.co.uk/womens-summer-of-sport, celebrating women’s sport through live coverage and special features.

BBC Cymru Wales The BBC will broadcast all of Wales’ matches on BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer, with former Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap and world-renowned commentator and former Wales player Philippa Tuttiett leading the commentary. BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru will bring you all the action with live coverage of Wales’ matches. BBC Radio Wales On Radio Wales, commentators Gareth Rhys Owen and Nick Webb will be joined by none other than former Wales internationals Rachel Taylor and Elinor Snowsill. Throughout the tournament the Scrum V podcast team will bring listeners the latest news, views and interviews on Wales in the Rugby World Cup. BBC Radio Cymru Meanwhile, BBC Radio Cymru’s commentary team consists of commentator Cennydd Davies and former players Caryl James and Sioned Harries. Y Panel Chwaraeon team will also be providing pre and post-match analysis every Friday and Monday. TV and iPlayer Scrum Queens: The Women who Saved the World Cup Scrum Queens: The Women Who Saved the World Cup is a story of pioneers, players, and perseverance. It reveals the fascinating, untold story of the inspirational women who changed the game forever. These trailblazers took matters into their own hands to organise the first-ever Women’s Rugby World Cup in Cardiff in 1991 – and in doing so both saved and transformed the sport they loved. The documentary pieces together the experiences of four friends who found themselves on the front line in the fight for recognition and respect, facing apathy and misogyny. With next to no money, little support, and their own personal challenges — including two pregnancies in the lead-up to the tournament — they managed to pull together an international event featuring 12 countries. Tackling the tournament took a huge emotional, financial and physical toll on the women who were left exhausted and nearly broken by the experience. But what started in Cardiff 34 years ago is now a global phenomenon and the pinnacle of women's international rugby. Their eventual triumph and determination shines through in this powerful look at a transformative period for women, both on and off the rugby pitch. Scrum V: The Warm Up In the build-up to each Wales match, Lauren Jenkins and the Scrum V team, including former Welsh international Philippa Tuttiett, share their thoughts, insights and predictions – setting the scene for the week ahead.

BBC Northern Ireland Ireland’s three World Cup pool games will be live on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Foyle and on BBC Sounds. Coverage of the Japan and Spain pool games, on Sunday 24 August and on Sunday 31 August, starts at 11.45am while Ireland v New Zealand will be live from 2.00pm on Sunday 7 September. Oisin Langan will be joined on commentary by former Ireland Captain Nichola Fryday live from the stadiums in England, with a host of former Internationals providing analysis live from the studio in Belfast.

BBC Scotland BBC Scotland will have commentary on Scotland’s games across the BBC including on BBC Sounds and on the BBC Sport website /app. Rugby reporter Andy Burke will be bringing all the latest news and developments from the Scotland camp across platforms and the tournament will feature on the BBC Radio Scotland Rugby Podcast.

Children's CBeebies Bedtime Story – CBeebies & BBC iPlayer To celebrate women in sport, Abbie Ward from the Red Roses reads a CBeebies Bedtime Story on Thursday 21 August to coincide with the start of the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025. Filmed at the Red Roses training camp in Bagshot, Abbie reads ‘Why is Mummy So Muddy?’, which explores the world of rugby through a child’s eyes. The story was written by Sally Myles, a rugby playing mum who wrote it because she didn’t see her own story in any books. Abbie’s story is a part of a series of CBeebies Bedtime Stories read by female sporting superstars. Newsround – CBBC and BBC iPlayer Newsround will dive into the Women’s Rugby World Cup, exploring today’s pathways from girl’s rugby to going pro. The Newsround team hear from current internationals, uncover how far women’s rugby has come in recent years, and ask what the future could look like for the next generation of girls dreaming of rugby glory. They’ll be reporting live throughout the World Cup, so young audiences who want to keep up with the tournament or learn more about rugby, can tune into CBBC every morning at 7:45am. There’s also coverage on the Newsround website including a piece on the progression of women’s rugby and profiles of Scotland’s Jade Konkel and Wales’ Gwenllian Pyrs. My Life: Rugby Girl – CBBC and BBC iPlayer As the Women's Rugby World Cup kicks off, one rising star has her eyes set on the top. Talented, fearless, and utterly dedicated, 14-year-old Ava is used to pushing herself to achieve her dream to one day become an England Red Rose. Attending the opening match and meeting her England heroes makes the dream feel closer than ever, but this summer, something unexpected shifts. While training she's asked to support a younger player who's struggling to find her place in the sport. What begins as a distraction from her own goals soon becomes a powerful journey of connection, confidence, and discovery. As Ava helps someone else fall in love with rugby, she starts to realise what the game truly gives you — and why staying in it might matter more than any trophy.

Additional Programming In the build-up and throughout the tournament, fans can enjoy a wealth of additional content celebrating the Women’s Rugby World Cup, across the BBC. As part of the BBC’s ‘Names Will Be Made’ campaign, which champions the stories of women in sport, the BBC is shining a spotlight on the trailblazers of women’s rugby, both on and off the pitch. The One Show The One Show’s been at the heart of this summer’s sporting events since it streamed the Women’s Rugby World Cup draw to a global audience - where hosts England were set to face the USA in the opening match in Sunderland. It kicks off its coverage with former player Maggie Alphonsi meeting the trailblazing women who defied the odds to launch the very first Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991, igniting a movement that would transform the sport. The film also features current England captain Zoe Aldcroft. In a further series of films, the show will be shining a spotlight on four inspiring players representing Britain and Ireland: Abi Burton (England), Brittany Hogan (Ireland), Chloe Rollie (Scotland), and Alex Callender (Wales). Through intimate interviews, archival footage, family stories, and visits to the pivotal fields of their pasts, The One Show uncover how a simple patch of grass, and unwavering support from loved ones, helped each of them realise their dreams. The show will also be coming to viewers live from Sunderland the night before the first match, as singer, actor and passionate rugby fan Sydnie Christmas meets the behind-the-scenes heroes ensuring the tournament kicks off in unforgettable style. Bargain Hunt Presenter Christina Trevanion is the referee for a battle between two sports and two nations. In this special episode of Bargain Hunt, the red and blue teams are made up of top former players from the worlds of Welsh football and English rugby. In red, flying the flag for Wales are footballers Helen Ward who scored a record-breaking 44 goals for her country, and defender Nia Jones -a huge Bargain Hunt fan. Representing the Blues are Sarah Hunter MBE, the most capped English rugby player of all time and Maggie Alphonsi MBE, who helped her team to a World Cup win and seven consecutive Six Nations victories. Coached by antiques experts Kate Bliss and Gary Pe, the sporting stars scour the stalls at Shepton Mallet antiques fair searching for three items to sell at auction in Chippenham. Will the teams be as good at shopping under pressure as they are on the pitch? Christina also meets former England rugby captain Gill Burns MBE who fought tirelessly in the 1980s and 90s to open up the game to women, resulting in groundbreaking changes for her beloved sport. She also shares some of her personal collection of rugby trophies, shirts and memorabilia. Morning Live Morning Live will be counting down to the matches, with expert analysis by some of the biggest names in Women’s rugby. BBC Local On BBC Sounds and across BBC Local radio stations the series Home Grown Heroes takes us back to the hometowns of some of the stars of the Women’s Rugby World Cup to find out what and where made them who they are today. Good Morning Sunday – Radio 2 Looking ahead to the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025; the Reverend Kate Bottley and Jason Mohammad will be joined by the players, fans and communities who are coming together. Plus, we’ll be hearing from some of Rev Kate's rugby teammates, discussing their love of the sport and what playing rugby means to them. During the tournament they’ll spread hope and joy, sharing uplifting stories about life, love and modern spirituality, alongside a great soundtrack for your Sunday morning. We’ll also be hearing 'Rev Kate's Report'; Kate will be at some of the games in Salford and will be telling us all about it. Woman’s Hour - Radio 4 Woman’s Hour will mark the start of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Sunderland by broadcasting live from a women’s rugby club in the North East. Presenter Anita Rani will talk to Red Roses’ Abbie Ward, the first England player to take up the RFU's maternity policy, and Managing Director for World Rugby, Sarah Massey, who is in charge of the whole tournament. She’ll also be discussing how having the first match of the World Cup in the North East will impact women living locally. And with Wales, Ireland and Scotland's teams all within touching distance of one of host's England's stadiums, we’ll hear what fans want to see their nations achieve. Desert Island Discs – Radio 4 Maggie Alphonsi, broadcaster and former rugby player, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury item she would take with her if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne. BBC Introducing BBC Introducing will host live showcases at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, featuring an all-female lineup of hotly tipped rising stars. Performances will take place across the tournament’s official host locations, spotlighting emerging talent supported by BBC Introducing. Archive content The history and archive content of pioneering women in rugby, football, netball, and more across the UK can be viewed and accessed here on the BBC Rewind website: Names Will Be Made. Audiences can also share their memories of Women’s Sport on the History at the BBC page.

Interview with Gabby Logan Who do you think will win the World Cup and why? I expect England to win the World Cup. They have only lost once in 56 matches and that was the final in New Zealand three years ago. They have emotional baggage to use as motivation. That defeat to New Zealand, which was very dramatic and caused a lot of hurt and pain, I’m sure, to those players involved in the squad. They have home support in this tournament that adds to the narrative. They’ve also got a brilliant blend of experienced players now like Emily Scarratt, Mo Hunt and Marlie Packer and then you’ve got young talent come through in the last cycle like Sadia Kabeya , Abby Dow, Ellie Kildunne who are all on fire, so they’ve got amazing players and they seem to have a great structure. Who do you think could be a dark horse? I think Canada. It seems a bit silly saying Canada when they’re ranked second, but a lot of people might think New Zealand because they were the beaten finalists three years ago but Canada has some really dangerous players and Silver in the Paris Olympics in the 7’s. A lot of that talent and danger comes from Alexandra Tessier, Sophie de Goede, Olivia Apps who are really exciting players on the world stage. What players could breakthrough this year and who should we keep an eye on? Florence Simmons from Canada with a 7’s background, Caitllin House from Australia and closer to home Aoife Wafer from Ireland are players that I would say look out for if you don’t watch a lot of Women’s Rugby. It feels to me like everyone knows England’s talents so I won’t give you any players from England because they’re all very well-known but England’s are electric, so you won’t be disappointed watching them. What are you most looking forward to? What I’m really looking forward to in this tournament is already tickets have been sold well more than New Zealand three years ago. I think it’s going to be a record attendance tournament, so I’d like to see any remaining tickets scooped up by anyone wanting a great day of sporting entertainment. So, get yourself out there and watch some of those pool matches. The Twickenham final is already sold out, I just hope it’s England who are there in that final. It’s going to be a brilliantly supported tournament and hopefully it’ll take women’s rugby on another journey.

Interview with Ugo Monye Who do you think will win the World Cup and why? I think the Red Roses will win! I think the pain and disappointment of being so close in New Zealand has been a real driving factor to this point. Unbeaten in all comps since then. A remarkable 55 matches unbeaten!!! They’re the No1 team in the world and at home in front of a sold-out Allianz stadium there simply couldn’t be a better time or stage for the Red Roses to triumph. Who do you think could be a dark horse? Outside of the “Big four – New Zealand, England, France, Canada I think The Wallaroos will fancy themselves with a convincing 36-5 win over Wales last week. Despite having a tough group (England, USA, Samoa) they would back themselves to qualify and try to top their best performance at a World Cup when they made the Semi-Final in 2010. What players could breakthrough this year and who should we keep an eye on? Abi Burton, one of 8 debutants at a World Cup. Remarkable story and journey. Caitlyn Halse at 18 became Australia’s youngest ever test player! Francesca McGhie of Scotland was nominated for World Rugby’s breakthrough's player of the year another very bright prospect. What are you most looking forward to? The atmosphere and the packed-out stadiums up and down the country. Another landmark moment for women’s sports. This World Cup has already broken records before a tackle had been made and is set to be the best World Cup yet!!!

Date Kick-off Match Location Where to watch 22-Aug 7.30pm USA v England Stadium of Light, Sunderland BBC One, iPlayer 23-Aug 12pm Australia v Samoa Salford Community Stadium iPlayer 23-Aug 2.45pm Scotland v Wales Salford Community Stadium BBC One, iPlayer 23-Aug 5.30pm Canada v Fiji York Community Stadium iPlayer 23-Aug 8.15pm France v Italy Sandy Park, Exeter iPlayer 24-Aug 12pm Ireland v Japan Franklins Gardens, Northampton BBC Two, iPlayer 24-Aug 2.45pm South Africa v Brazil Franklins Gardens, Northampton iPlayer 24-Aug 5.30pm New Zealand v Spain York Community Stadium iPlayer 30-Aug 12pm Canada v Wales Salford Community Stadium BBC Two, iPlayer 30-Aug 2.45pm Scotland v Fiji Salford Community Stadium BBC Two, iPlayer 30-Aug 5pm England v Samoa Franklins Gardens, Northampton BBC Two, iPlayer 30-Aug 7.30pm USA v Australia York Community Stadium iPlayer 31-Aug 12pm Ireland v Spain Franklins Gardens, Northampton BBC Two, iPlayer 31-Aug 2pm New Zealand v Japan Sandy Park, Exeter iPlayer 31-Aug 3.30pm Italy v South Africa York Community Stadium iPlayer 31-Aug 4.45pm France v Brazil Sandy Park, Exeter iPlayer 06-Sep 12pm Canada v Scotland Sandy Park, Exeter BBC Two, iPlayer 06-Sep 1.30pm USA v Samoa York Community Stadium iPlayer 06-Sep 2.45pm Wales v Fiji Sandy Park, Exeter BBC Two, iPlayer 06-Sep 5pm England v Australia Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium BBC Two, iPlayer 07-Sep 12pm Japan v Spain York Community Stadium iPlayer 07-Sep 2pm Italy v Brazil Franklins Gardens, Northampton iPlayer 07-Sep 2.45pm New Zealand v Ireland Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium BBC Two, iPlayer 07-Sep 4.45pm France v South Africa Franklins Gardens, Northampton iPlayer 13-Sep 12.30pm Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D Sandy Park, Exeter BBC Two, iPlayer 13-Sep 4pm Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol BBC Two, iPlayer 14-Sep 12.30pm Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C Sandy Park, Exeter BBC Two, iPlayer 14-Sep 4pm Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol BBC Two, iPlayer 19-Sep 7pm Winner QF1 v Winner QF2 Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol BBC Two, iPlayer 20-Sep 3.30pm Winner QF3 v Winner QF4 Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol BBC One, iPlayer 27-Sep 12.30pm Runner-Up SF1 v Runner-Up SF2 Twickenham Stadium, London BBC Two, iPlayer 27-Sep 4pm Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 Twickenham Stadium, London BBC One, iPlayer

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