It’s best not to think of certainties when predicting the 2025 RWC. But there are a few nobody can deny.
This tenth version will be the best attended and the most widely followed ever. Coverage by all known media will be exhaustive.
Let’s take a look at one or two features.
Three of the leading contenders, England, France and New Zealand, have each developed new podcast releases.
England’s Inside Line has been around for a good while, the most recent tilted heavily towards personalities among the Red Roses.
The FFR has just started a series of youtube offerings of chats between former greats and the new generation, under the title “Entre Bleues”. The first pairing is the effervescent Lenaig Corson and Taina Maka.
NZR take a different approach again. Three young Black Ferns, Maia Joseph, Katelyn Vahaakolo and Jorja Miller, join to take us through an 8-part series.
Many media sources take the easy way out and offer “the 3/5/10 players to watch.” I find this a cheap exercise in journalism, where the only member of the USA Eagles featured is the inevitable Ilona Maher.
Their assumption is their readers and viewers have little idea of who is who; and need these simplified signposts to find their way through the maze.
Perhaps they’re right.
Kit
Another leading feature is the the new kit, displayed by proud team-members, not models. I wonder why. No I don’t! Canterbury burned its fingers!
It’s convenient for the unions involved that an alternative kit is now mandatory. No longer the plain white jersey of yesteryear, mud-splattered. That doubles the amount of cash tumbling into treasurers’ money-bags, as thousands of examples tumble off the shelves into eager hands.
Top designers gave been engaged in the task.
Coverage
On the media front the BBC for once holds the trump cards. They have announced the sixteen people who will be (co-)commentating throughout. They are led by Gabby Logan and Ugo Monye and include thirteen women and three men.
The most intriguing inclusions are Simon Middleton, England’s previous head coach, and – drum-roll! – Ruby Tui. Different nations are covered, but far from all.
Others will make their contributions from pitchside and elsewhere.
Fan Zones
They are now a must for every major sporting event. Each English city and town hosting matches has now announced a venue and likely attractions. They take a lot of organizing.
I recall waiting impatiently for the Dublin version to open in 2017. I haven’t yet broken my mug.
Squads
We now know all the 16 squads. They were published across a wide spread of time, which only added to the anticipation.
Each group of 32 has its tale of triumphs and disappointments to tell. The latter of course are the players left behind, either through injury or omission.
The triumphs can be spectacular, especially recovery from serious illness.
Samoa will win one prize by including identical twins, Christabelleq and Demielle Onesemo. With Romane Menager now a known absentee, I suspect ‘Bella’ and ‘Ella’, as they are known locally, will have no competitors.
Few players ever reach the heights of five RWCs in a row. When she first steps on the field, Emily Scarratt will become a rare exception. I remember seeing her at the Stoop in 2010.
There are many more appearing for a fourth time. Well done!
The next puzzle
We can now amuse ourselves wondering how the sixteen sets of selectors will organise their teams for the three pool-stage matches.
Will they stick to simple indicators like the world rankings to decide the strength of the opposition?
Almost certainly not. They have manner of visual means to assess them, and some people don’t rate the rankings anyway.
But picking that first 23 can be a hairy business. Let’s leave it to the experts.
The delight is, we can only guess.
