The road ahead for teams competing in the 2025 RWC
Here’s an interim rundown of test fixtures up to and including the World Cup. More are sure to be added. Further down I add some comments.
Australia
3 May v Fijiana, Fiji
10 May v New Zealand, Newcastle, Qd.
Pacific Four
17 May v USA, Canberra
23 May v Canada, Brisbane
12 July v New Zealand, Wellington (Laurie O’Reilly Cup)
26 July, v Wales, (Queensland)
1 August v Wales, Sydney
World Cup
23 August v Samoa, Salford
30 August v USA, York
7 September v England, Brighton and Hove
Brazil
European Tour
16 March v Portugal (L 5-13)
22 March v Spain
World Cup
24 August v South Africa, Northampton
31 August v France, Exeter
7 September v Italy, Northampton
Canada
Pacific Four
2 May v USA, Kansas City
17 May v New Zealand, Christchurch
23 May v Astralis, Brisbane
World Cup
23 August v Fiji, York
30 August v Wales, Salford
6 September v Scotland, Exeter
England
Six Nations
1 23 March v Italy, York
2 29 March v Wales Cardiff
3 12 April v Ireland, Cork
4 19 April v Scotland, Leicester
5 26 April v France, Twickenham
World Cup
22 August v USA, Sunderland
30 August v Samoa, Northampton
6 September v Australia, Brighton and Hove
Fiji
World Cup
23 August v Canada, York
30 August v Scotland, Salford
6 September v Wales, Exeter
France
Six Nations
1 22 March v ireland, Belfast
2 29 March v Scotland, La Rochelle
3 12 April v Wales, Brive
4 19 April v Italy, Parma
5 26 April v England, Twickenham
World Cup
23 August v Italy, Exeter
31 August v Brazil, Exeter
7 September v South Africa, Northampton
Ireland
Six Nations
1 22 March v France, Belfast
2 30 March v Italy, Parma
3 12 April v England, Cork
4 20 April v Wales, Newport
5 26 April v Scotland, Edinburgh
World Cup
24 August v Japan, Northampton
31 August v Spain, Northampton
7 September v New Zealand, Brighton and Hove
Italy
Six Nations
1 23 March v England, York
2 30 March v Ireland, Parma
3 13 April v Scotland, Edinburgh
4 19 April v France, Parma
5 26 April v Wales, Parma
World Cup
23 August v France, Exeter
31 August v South Africa, York
7 September v Brazil, Northampton
Japan
26 April v USA, Los Angeles
7 July v Spain, Kitakyushu
26 July v Spain, Tokyo
2-12 August tour of Italy (tbc)
World Cup
24 August v Ireland, Northampton
31 August v New Zealand, Exeter
7 September v Spain, York
New Zealand
Pacific Four
17 May v Canada, Christchurch
24 May v USA, North harbour
12 July v Australia, Wellington
World Cup
24 August v Spain, York
31 August v Japan, Exeter
7 September v ireland, Brighton
Samoa
World Cup
23 August v Australia, Salford
30 August v England, Northampton
6 September v USA, York
Scotland
Six Nations
1 22 March v Wales, Edinburgh
2 29 March v France, La Rochelle
3 13 April v Italy, Edinburgh
4 19 April v England, Leicester
5 26 April v Ireland, Edinburgh
World Cup
23 August v Wales, Salford
30 August v Fiji, Salford
6 September v Canada, Exeter
South Africa
World Cup
24 August v Brazil, Northampton
31 August v Italy, York
7 September v France, Northampton
The Women Boks site still shows no warm-up fixtures
Spain
22 March v Brazil
7 July v Japan, Kitakyushu
26 July v Japan, Tokyo
World Cup
24 August v New Zealand, York
31 August v Ireland, Northampton
7 September v Japan, York
USA
Pacific Four
10 May v Canada, Kansas City
17 May v Australia, Canberra
24 May v New Zealand, Auckland
World Cup
22 August v England, Sunderland
30 August v Australia, York
6 September v Samoa, York
Wales
Six Nations
1 22 March v Scotland, Edinburgh
2 29 March v England, Cardiff
3 12 April v France, Brive
4 20 April v Ireland, Newport
5 26 April v Italy, Parma
Tour of Australia
26 July v Australia, Brisbane (tbc)
1 August v Australia, Sydney (tbc)
World Cup
23 August v Scotland, Salford
30 August v Canada, Salford
6 September v Fiji, Exeter
Comment
Brazil are in a position typical of developing nations. They have focused with success on 7s, but are struggling to maintain their position among the World Series elite.
That means that the tour of Europe they are undertaking in March will be lacking top 7s names like Bianca Silva, Yasmim Soares and Raquel Kochhann. But the tour is bound to be beneficial, adding to the limited experience most of the players have of playing two games in quick succession abroad.
After visiting the Netherlands for two tests late last year, they will meet Portugal again, but it will be a first ever clash with Las Leonas. Their head coach, Emiliano Caffera, knows how important the tour will be. He recognises that Spain will present a much stiffer challenge, but that is exactly what they need in the build-up to the World Cup.
30 players will make the trip, which means some will enjoy only a limited amount of game-time – unless means are found to overcome the usual restrictions for international matches.
As the rank outsiders, we can only wish them a profitable tour and all the best.
Preparation
Countries vary enormously in their schedules. Many have squad members operating overseas. That means they are subject to local calendars; head coaches can’t establish their own ideal programme.
That’s the case with every player operating abroad in the English PWR and the French Elite 1 – and they are plenty. In England, for example, any player at a club qualifying for the play-offs has her rest period shortened. Any training session the management orders has to take place with important figures missing.
The other inevitable variable concerns Sevens players. NZR has announced that seven of their 7s stars have made themselves available for consideration for the Black Ferns RWC squad. The two head coaches are working closely together to ensure the optimum transitions, well aware of the difficulties involved.
It may also be an unspoken admission of the shortage of top-quality athletes playing exclusively in 15s. Certainly the Black Ferns are ultra-keen to preserve their title of world champions, a position they have held six times already.
One fascinating unknown is the role of the American WER. It will certainly help the Eagles to acquire more game-time at home. If the project succeeds, it could alter the shape of world rugby. The USA would revert to being top dogs, as they were when they secured the very first RWC in 1991. And once the ball starts rolling, teams like England and New Zealand would have to look to their laurels.
The list I’ve collated is almost bound to be extended, making for a very busy northern hemisphere summer.
