Women's Rugby is very popular in many of the rugby-playing countries around the world. The first Women's Rugby World Cup was held in 1991, and it has been held every four years since.

A women's rugby game

Women's rugby game in action

The tournaments in 1991 and 1994 were not officially sanctioned by the IRB - it was not until the 1998 tournament that it received official IRB backing. After being runners-up for three years running, England triumphed in 2014 for their second Championship.

New Zealand won the 2017 World Cup, their 5th title. The next tournament was planned to be held in 2021 in New Zealand, the first time the event as ever been held in the Southern Hemisphere. The event was postponed until 2022 due to the ongoing pandemic.

The format of the World Cup changed for the 2022 World Cup, with classification matches replaced with quarter-finals. Host nation New Zealand defeated England again in the final in 2022. New Zealand has now won 6 of the 10 tournaments so far.

“This tournament has shown that women and girls can be anything, do anything and belong anywhere – in rugby, in sport and in society.”
— Sarah Massey, Managing Director, Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

Results

Year Winner Runner Up Score Host
2033 TBD TBD TBD USA
2029 TBD TBD TBD Australia
2025 England Canada 33-13 England
2022 New Zealand England 34-31 New Zealand
2017 New Zealand England 41-32 Ireland
2014 England Canada 21-9 France
2010 New Zealand England 13-10 England
2006 New Zealand England 25-17 Canada
2002 New Zealand England 19-9 Spain
1998 New Zealand USA 44-12 Netherlands
1994 England USA 38-23 Scotland
1991 USA England 19-16 Wales

Tournament Statistics

New Zealand's dominance in the Women's Rugby World Cup is remarkable, having won 6 out of 10 tournaments (60% win rate). England has been the runner-up in 6 tournaments, finally breaking through with wins in 1994, 2014, and 2025. The USA was the inaugural champion in 1991 and has reached two other finals. Canada has been a consistent performer, reaching two finals as runner-up.

  • Most titles: New Zealand (6)
  • Most finals: England (9)
  • Most runner-up finishes: England (6)
  • Highest scoring final: New Zealand 41-32 England (2017)
  • Closest final margin: 3 points (multiple occasions)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the most recent Women's Rugby World Cup?

England won the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, defeating Canada 33-13 in the final. This was England's third World Cup title and their first victory on home soil.

Which country has won the most Women's Rugby World Cups?

New Zealand has won the most Women's Rugby World Cups with 6 titles out of 10 tournaments. They have dominated the competition since their first victory in 1998, winning 60% of all tournaments held.

When did the Women's Rugby World Cup become officially recognized?

The Women's Rugby World Cup received official IRB (International Rugby Board) backing in 1998. The tournaments in 1991 and 1994 were held without official sanctioning but are now recognized as part of the tournament's history.

How often is the Women's Rugby World Cup held?

The Women's Rugby World Cup is held every four years, following the same cycle as the men's tournament. The only exception was the 2022 tournament, which was postponed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Where will the next Women's Rugby World Cup be held?

The 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup will be held in Australia, marking the second time the tournament will be hosted in the Southern Hemisphere. The 2033 tournament is scheduled to take place in the USA.

Which teams have reached the most World Cup finals?

England has reached the most finals with 10 appearances, though they've won only 3 titles. New Zealand has reached 6 finals and won all of them, demonstrating remarkable efficiency in championship matches.