The knockout stage of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup was the second and final stage of the competition, following the pool stage. Played from 13 to 27 September, the knockout stage ended with the final, held at Twickenham Stadium in Twickenham, London. The top two teams from each pool advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination tournament. There will be 8 matches in the knockout stage, including a third-place play-off played between the two losing teams of the semi-finals.
Format The knockout stage of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup will be contested by the eight teams that qualified from the pool stage, the top two teams from each of the four pools. Matches in the knockout stage are played to a result; if the scores are tied at the end of 80 minutes, a 10-minute period of extra time is played; if scores remain level after extra time, an additional 10-minute "sudden death" period will be played, and the first team to score any points wins. A kicking competition will ensue if the score remains tied.
Qualified teams Canada were the first side to secure qualification to the knockout stage after their victory over Wales in Pool B. Scotland were the next team to qualify after their win over Fiji in Pool B on the same day. England were the third team to qualify for the quarter-finals after their Pool A victory over Samoa. Ireland and New Zealand qualified on 31 August after their wins over Spain and Japan, respectively. France qualified on the same day after their Pool D victory over Brazil. South Africa also defeated Italy to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, with France's win confirming their progression.
Pool Winners Runners-up A B C D
Bracket
Quarter-finals New Zealand vs South Africa
FB 15Renee HolmesRW 14Braxton Sorensen-McGeeOC 13Stacey WaakaIC 12Theresa Setefano LW 11Portia Woodman-WickliffeFH 10Ruahei Demant (cc) SH 9 Maia Joseph N8 8 Kaipo Olsen-BakerOF 7 Jorja Miller BF 6 Liana Mikaele-Tu'uRL 5 Alana BremnerLL 4 Maia Roos TP 3 Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu HK 2 Georgia Ponsonby LP 1 Chryss Viliko Replacements:HK 16Atlanta Lolohea PR 17Awhina Tangen-Wainohu PR 18Kate Henwood SR 19Laura Bayfield BR 20Kennedy Tukuafu (cc) SH 21Iritana Hohaia CE 22Katelyn Vaha'akolo WG 23Ayesha Leti-I'iga Coach: Allan Bunting FB 15Byrhandré DolfRW 14Maceala SamboyaOC 13Zintle MpuphaIC 12Aphiwe Ngwevu LW 11Ayanda MalingaFH 10Libbie Janse van RensburgSH 9 Nadine RoosN8 8 Aseza Hele OF 7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa BF 6 Sizophila SolontsiRL 5 Danelle Lochner LL 4 Nolusindiso Booi (c) TP 3 Babalwa Latsha HK 2 Lindelwa Gwala LP 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie Replacements:HK 16Luchell Hanekom PR 17Yonela Ngxingolo PR 18Nombuyekezo Mdliki SR 19Vainah Ubisi SR 20Anathi Qolo BR 21Lerato Makua BR 22Catha Jacobs CE 23Eloise Webb Coach: Swys de Bruin Player of the Match: Kaipo Olsen-Baker (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ella Goldsmith (Australia) Kat Roche (United States) Television match official: Rachel Horton (Australia) Foul play review officer: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Canada vs Australia
FB 15Julia SchellRW 14Alysha CorriganOC 13Florence Symonds IC 12Alex Tessier (c)LW 11Asia Hogan-RochesterFH 10Taylor PerrySH 9 Justine Pelletier N8 8 Fabiola Forteza OF 7 Karen PaquinBF 6 Caroline CrossleyRL 5 Courtney O'Donnell LL 4 Sophie de Goede TP 3 DaLeaka Menin HK 2 Emily Tuttosi LP 1 McKinley Hunt Replacements:HK 16Gillian Boag PR 17Brittany Kassil PR 18Olivia DeMerchant SR 19Tyson Beukeboom SR 20Laetitia Royer BR 21Gabby Senft SH 22Olivia Apps CE 23Shoshanah Seumanutafa Coach: Kévin Rouet FB 15Caitlyn HalseRW 14Maya StewartOC 13Georgina FriedrichsIC 12Cecilia Smith LW 11Desiree MillerFH 10Faitala Moleka SH 9 Samantha Wood N8 8 Siokapesi Palu (c) OF 7 Emily Chancellor BF 6 Piper DuckRL 5 Michaela Leonard LL 4 Kaitlan LeaneyTP 3 Asoiva Karpani HK 2 Adiana Talakai LP 1 Lydia Kavoa Replacements:HK 16Katalina Amosa PR 17Faliki Pohiva PR 18Bridie O'Gorman SR 19Ashley Fernandez BR 20Ashley Marsters BR 21Tabua Tuinakauvadra FH 22Tia Hinds CE 23Trilleen Pomare Coach: Joanne Yapp Player of the Match: Sophie de Goede (Canada)
Assistant referees: Lauren Jenner (Italy) Holly Wood (England) Television match official: Leo Colgan (Ireland) Foul play review officer: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
France vs Ireland
FB 15Morgane BourgeoisRW 14Joanna GrisezOC 13Marine Ménager (cc)IC 12Gabrielle Vernier LW 11Kelly ArbeyFH 10Lina Queyroi SH 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus N8 8 Charlotte Escudero OF 7 Léa ChamponBF 6 Axelle Berthoumieu RL 5 Madoussou Fall RaclotLL 4 Manaé Feleu (cc) TP 3 Rose Bernadou HK 2 Agathe Gérin LP 1 Yllana Brosseau Replacements:HK 16Manon Bigot PR 17Annaëlle Deshayes PR 18Assia Khalfaoui SR 19Hina IkahehegiBR 20Séraphine Okemba BR 21Teani Feleu SH 22Alexandra Chambon FB 23Émilie Boulard Coach: Gaëlle Mignot & FB 15Stacey FloodRW 14Béibhinn ParsonsOC 13Aoife DaltonIC 12Eve HigginsLW 11Amee-Leigh CostiganFH 10Dannah O'BrienSH 9 Aoibheann ReillyN8 8 Brittany Hogan OF 7 Aoife WaferBF 6 Fiona TuiteRL 5 Sam Monaghan (c) LL 4 Ruth CampbellTP 3 Linda DjougangHK 2 Neve Jones LP 1 Niamh O'Dowd Replacements:HK 16Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald PR 17Ellena Perry PR 18Sadhbh McGrathSR 19Eimear Corri Fallon BR 20Grace Moore SH 21Emily LaneCE 22Enya BreenWG 23Anna McGannCoach: Scott Bemand Player of the Match: Charlotte Escudero (France)
Assistant referees: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand) Natarsha Ganley (New Zealand) Television match official: Ian Tempest (England) Foul play review officer: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
England vs Scotland
FB 15Helena RowlandRW 14Abby DowOC 13Megan Jones IC 12Tatyana Heard LW 11Jess BreachFH 10Holly AitchisonSH 9 Natasha Hunt N8 8 Alex MatthewsOF 7 Sadia KabeyaBF 6 Zoe Aldcroft (c) RL 5 Rosie GalliganLL 4 Morwenna Talling TP 3 Maud Muir HK 2 Amy Cokayne LP 1 Kelsey Clifford Replacements:HK 16Lark Atkin-Davies PR 17Mackenzie Carson PR 18Sarah Bern SR 19Abbie Ward BR 20Maddie Feaunati SH 21Lucy Packer FH 22Zoe Harrison FB 23Emma Sing Coach: John Mitchell FB 15Chloe Rollie RW 14Rhona LloydOC 13Emma OrrIC 12Lisa ThomsonLW 11Francesca McGhieFH 10Helen NelsonSH 9 Leia Brebner-Holden N8 8 Jade Konkel-Roberts OF 7 Evie GallagherBF 6 Rachel Malcolm (c) RL 5 Sarah BonarLL 4 Emma Wassell TP 3 Christine Belisle HK 2 Lana Skeldon LP 1 Leah Bartlett Replacements:HK 16Elis Martin PR 17Molly Wright PR 18Molly Poolman SR 19Eva Donaldson BR 20Rachel McLachlan BR 21Alex Stewart SH 22Caity Mattinson CE 23Evie Wills Coach: Bryan Easson Player of the Match: Morwenna Talling (England)
Assistant referees: Clara Munarini (Italy) Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales) Television match official: Quinton Immelman (South Africa) Foul play review officer: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Semi-finals New Zealand vs Canada
FB 15Renee Holmes RW 14Braxton Sorensen-McGeeOC 13Stacey WaakaIC 12Sylvia Brunt LW 11Portia Woodman-WickliffeFH 10Ruahei Demant (cc)SH 9 Risi Pouri-Lane N8 8 Kaipo Olsen-BakerOF 7 Kennedy Tukuafu (cc) BF 6 Liana Mikaele-Tu'uRL 5 Alana Bremner LL 4 Maia RoosTP 3 Tanya Kalounivale HK 2 Georgia Ponsonby LP 1 Chryss Viliko Replacements:HK 16Atlanta Lolohea PR 17Kate Henwood PR 18Amy Rule SR 19Chelsea Bremner BR 20Layla Sae SH 21Maia Joseph CE 22Theresa Setefano WG 23Ayesha Leti-I'iga Coach: Allan Bunting FB 15Julia SchellRW 14Alysha CorriganOC 13Florence SymondsIC 12Alex Tessier (c)LW 11Asia Hogan-RochesterFH 10Taylor Perry SH 9 Justine Pelletier N8 8 Fabiola Forteza OF 7 Karen Paquin BF 6 Caroline Crossley RL 5 Courtney O'Donnell LL 4 Sophie de GoedeTP 3 DaLeaka MeninHK 2 Emily Tuttosi LP 1 McKinley Hunt Replacements:HK 16Gillian Boag PR 17Brittany Kassil PR 18Olivia DeMerchantSR 19Tyson Beukeboom SR 20Laetitia Royer BR 21Gabby Senft SH 22Olivia Apps CE 23Shoshanah Seumanutafa Coach: Kévin Rouet Player of the Match: Justine Pelletier (Canada)
Assistant referees: Aurélie Groizeleau (France) Ella Goldsmith (Australia) Television match official: Quinton Immelman (South Africa) Foul play review officer: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
France vs England
FB 15Morgane BourgeoisRW 14Kelly Arbey OC 13Nassira KondeIC 12Gabrielle VernierLW 11Marine Ménager (c)FH 10Carla Arbez SH 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus N8 8 Teani FeleuOF 7 Léa ChamponBF 6 Charlotte EscuderoRL 5 Madoussou Fall Raclot LL 4 Hina Ikahehegi TP 3 Rose Bernadou HK 2 Agathe Gérin LP 1 Yllana Brosseau Replacements:HK 16Élisa Riffonneau PR 17Annaëlle Deshayes PR 18Assia Khalfaoui SR 19Taïna Maka BR 20Séraphine Okemba SH 21Alexandra Chambon FH 22Lina Tuy WG 23Emilie Boulard Coach: Gaëlle Mignot & FB 15Ellie KildunneRW 14Abby DowOC 13Megan JonesIC 12Tatyana Heard LW 11Jess Breach FH 10Zoe HarrisonSH 9 Natasha Hunt N8 8 Alex MatthewsOF 7 Sadia KabeyaBF 6 Zoe Aldcroft (c)RL 5 Abbie Ward LL 4 Morwenna Talling TP 3 Maud Muir HK 2 Amy Cokayne LP 1 Hannah Botterman Replacements:HK 16Lark Atkin-Davies PR 17Kelsey Clifford PR 18Sarah Bern SR 19Rosie Galligan BR 20Maddie Feaunati SH 21Lucy Packer FH 22Holly Aitchison CE 23Helena Rowland Coach: John Mitchell Player of the Match: Ellie Kildunne (England)
Assistant referees: Clara Munarini (Italy) Kat Roche (United States) Television match official: Rachel Horton (Australia) Foul play review officer: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Bronze final: New Zealand vs France
FB 15Renee HolmesRW 14Braxton Sorensen-McGeeOC 13Stacey WaakaIC 12Sylvia Brunt LW 11Portia Woodman-Wickliffe FH 10Ruahei Demant (c)SH 9 Risi Pouri-Lane N8 8 Kaipo Olsen-BakerOF 7 Jorja MillerBF 6 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u RL 5 Laura BayfieldLL 4 Maia Roos TP 3 Tanya Kalounivale HK 2 Georgia Ponsonby LP 1 Chryss Viliko Replacements:HK 16Vici-Rose Green PR 17Awhina Tangen-Wainohu PR 18Amy Rule SR 19Alana Bremner BR 20Layla Sae SH 21Maia Joseph CE 22Theresa Setefano WG 23Katelyn Vaha'akolo Coach: Allan Bunting FB 15Emilie BoulardRW 14Joanna GrisezOC 13Nassira Konde IC 12Gabrielle VernierLW 11Marine Ménager (c)FH 10Carla Arbez SH 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus N8 8 Teani FeleuOF 7 Léa ChamponBF 6 Charlotte EscuderoRL 5 Madoussou Fall Raclot LL 4 Taïna Maka TP 3 Rose Bernadou HK 2 Agathe Gérin LP 1 Yllana Brosseau Replacements:HK 16Manon Bigot PR 17Annaëlle Deshayes PR 18Assia Khalfaoui SR 19Hina Ikahehegi BR 20Marie Morland SH 21Alexandra Chambon FH 22Lina Tuy WG 23Kelly Arbey Coach: Gaëlle Mignot &
Player of the Match: Renee Holmes (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Sara Cox (England) Kat Roche (USA) Television match official: Quinton Immelman (South Africa) Foul play review officer: Ian Tempest (England)
Final: Canada vs England
FB 15Julia Schell RW 14Alysha CorriganOC 13Florence SymondsIC 12Alex Tessier (c)LW 11Asia Hogan-RochesterFH 10Taylor PerrySH 9 Justine Pelletier N8 8 Fabiola FortezaOF 7 Karen Paquin BF 6 Caroline Crossley RL 5 Courtney O'Donnell LL 4 Sophie de GoedeTP 3 DaLeaka Menin HK 2 Emily Tuttosi LP 1 McKinley Hunt Replacements:HK 16Gillian Boag PR 17Brittany Kassil PR 18Olivia DeMerchant SR 19Tyson Beukeboom SR 20Laetitia Royer BR 21Gabby Senft SH 22Olivia Apps CE 23Shoshanah Seumanutafa Coach: Kévin Rouet FB 15Ellie KildunneRW 14Abby DowOC 13Megan JonesIC 12Tatyana Heard LW 11Jess Breach FH 10Zoe HarrisonSH 9 Natasha Hunt N8 8 Alex MatthewsOF 7 Sadia KabeyaBF 6 Zoe Aldcroft (c)RL 5 Abbie Ward LL 4 Morwenna Talling TP 3 Maud Muir HK 2 Amy Cokayne LP 1 Hannah Botterman Replacements:HK 16Lark Atkin-Davies PR 17Kelsey Clifford PR 18Sarah Bern SR 19Rosie Galligan BR 20Maddie Feaunati SH 21Lucy Packer FH 22Holly Aitchison CE 23Helena Rowland Coach: John Mitchell Player of the Match: Sadia Kabeya (England)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) Clara Munarini (Italy) Television match official: Leo Colgan (Ireland) Foul play review officer: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
References