Ireland
The Irish enter this tournament as the "best of the rest" behind the top four teams that are the favourites to compete for the title. They have been consistently competitive against the top sides, largely as a result of improved funding and focus from the Irish Union. In 2022 the IRFU introduced professional contracts and has since focused more on the 15-a-side version of the game which has lead to some impressive results and the emergence of several exciting youngsters. The likes of Aoife Wafer, Stacey Flood and Dannah O'Brien are already quality players and look set to form the spine of the team for the next decade. They'll be surrounded by some established stars, including winger Amee-Leigh Costigan who is arguably the best finisher in the northern hemisphere.
The last 18-months has seen Ireland record wins over Australia, New Zealand and the USA as well as pushing Canada very close. In this year's Six Nations, Ireland showed some real promise but were left disappointed by their last-minute loss to Scotland which saw them fall away from England and France in terms of points. They did, however, push France until the final 10-minutes. They also went toe-to-toe with England in the first half and were unlucky not to be leading at the break before England took charge in the second half. Overall, Ireland are a side that probably won't challenge for the ultimate title but this side is definitely a potential giant-killer. New Zealand will have to be on guard to avoid a repeat of their WXV 1 encounter last year.
World Ranking: 5th
Best ever Result: 4th (2014)
2021 Result: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Scott Bemand
Captain(s): Edel McMahon and Sam Monaghan
Player to Watch: Aoife Wafer
Expectation: Get out of the pool
Pool Prediction: 2nd
FIxtures:
Sunday 24th August, 12pm vs Japan at Franklin's Gardens
Sunday 31st Agust, 12pm vs Spain at Franklin's Gardens
Sunday 7th September, 2:45pm vs New Zealand at Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium
SQUAD
Hooker: Beth Buttimer - Neve Jones - Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald
Prop: Linda Djougang - Sadhbh McGrath - Niamh O'Dowd - Ellena Perry
Lock: Claire Boles - Ruth Campbell - Eimear Corri Fallon - Siobhan McCarthy - Sam Monaghan(CC) - Fiona Tuite
Back Row: Brittany Hogan - Ivana Kiripati - Edel McMahon(CC) - Grace Moore - Aoife Wafer
Scrum Half: Emily Lane - Aoibheann Reilly - Molly Scuffil-McCabe
Fly Half: Stacey Flood - Nicole Fowley - Dannah O'Brien
Centre: Aoife Dalton - Eve Higgins - Nancy McGillivray
Wing: Amee-Leigh Costigan - Anna McGann - Beibhinn Parsons
Fullback: Meabh Deely
Japan
Japan has struggled for wins in recent times but has remained consistently competitive against the likes of Italy, Scotland and Wales. Japan beat Ireland in their previous fixture which took place in 2022 but that was against a very different Irish team. The team that they will be up against this time is now fully professional and competing in the upper echelons of the international game. Japan's biggest match will be against Spain who they have no recent experience playing. Japan are the higher-ranked team, and will likely enter the game as slight favourites, but it is a complete toss-up in my eyes.
World Ranking: 11th
Best ever Result: 8th (1994)
2021 Result: Pool Stage
Head Coach: Lesley McKenzie
Captain(S): Saki Minami
Player to Watch: Komachi Imakugi
Expectation: 3rd place in pool
Pool Prediction: 4th
Fixtures:
Sunday 24th August, 12pm vs Ireland at Frankiln's Gardens
Sunday 31st August, 2:45pm vs New Zealand at Sandy Park
Sunday 7th September, 12pm vs Spain at York Community Stadium
SQUAD
Hooker: Ayumu Kokaji - Asuka Kuge - Kotomi Taniguchi
Prop: Sachiko Kato - Wako Kitano - Hinata Komaki - Miharu Machida - Manami Mine - Nijiho Nagata
Lock: Ayano Sakurai - Yuna Sato - Otoka Yoshimura
Back Row: Kyoko Hosokawa - Mosami Kawamura - Sakurako Korai - Iroha Nagata - Jennifer Nduka - Seina Saito
Scrum Half: Megumi Abe - Mo Tsukui
Fly Half: Ayasa Otsuka - Minori Yamamoto
Centre: Nao Ando - Mana Furuta - Sakurako Hatada - Haruka Hirotsu - Kanaoko Kobayashi
Wing: Komachi Imakugi - Mele Yua Havili Kagawa - Misaki Matsumura
Fullback: Rinka Matsuda - Sora Nishimura
New Zealand
The Black Ferns are the two-time defending champions who will face perhaps their greatest challenge yet in order to defend their titles. The return of Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has bolstered the side with the all-time-great scoring a whopping seven tries against the USA earlier this year. New Zealand are still amongst the favourites, but they have lost some of their invulnerability. They are yet to lose in 2025 with their worst result being a draw with Canada. However, in 2024, they lost a total of 4 games - they lost twice to England and lost once to each of Canada and Ireland. This is a reinvigorated side with a point to prove and they will be incredibly dangerous going forward.
World Ranking: 3rd
Best ever Result: Winners (1998,2002,2006,2010,2017,2021)
2021 Result: Winners
Head Coach: Allan Bunting
Captain(S): Ruahei Demant and Kennedy Simon
Player to Watch: Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
Expectation: Winners
Pool Prediction: 1st
Fixtures:
Sunday 24th August, 5:30pm vs Spain at York Community Stadium
Sunday 31st August, 2pm vs Japan at Sandy Park
Sunday 7th September, 2:45pm vs Ireland at the Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium
SQUAD
Hooker: Vici-Rose Green - Atlanta Lolohea - Georgia Ponsonby -
Prop: Kate Henwood - Tanya Kalounivale - Veisinia Muhatariki-Fakalelu - Amy Rule - Awhina Tangen-Wainohu - Chryss Viliko
Lock: Laura Bayfield - Alana Bremner - Chelsea Bremner - Maia Roos
Back Row: Kaipo Olsen-Baker - Liana Mikaele-Tu'u - Jorja Miller - Layla Sae - Kennedy Tukuafu
Scrum Half: Iritana Hohaia - Maia Joseph - RIsi Pouri-Lane
Fly Half: Kelly Brazier - Ruahei Demant
Centre: Sylvia Brunt - Amy Du Plessis - Theresa Setefano - Stacey Waaka
Wing: Ayesha Leti-I'iga - Katelyn Vaha'Akolo - Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
Fullback: Renee Holmes - Brxaton Sorensen McGhee
Spain
Spain is a dangerous team that has struggled for consistent success in recent years. They have lost their last four games - the last of which was a 97-7 defeat to England which is better forgotten. That result, despite the scoreline, will not be the one that causes the most concern for Spain. Instead it is the second and third losses on that streak, both of which were against Japan in July who they'll be facing once again this summer. The likes of Claudia Pena will have to step up massively to earn Spain a huge victory to further their case for more inclusion with the traditional giants of rugby in Europe.
World Ranking: 13th
Best ever Result: 6th (1991)
2021 Result: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Juan Gonzalez Marruecos
Captain(S): Laura Delgado and Alba Vinuesa
Player to Watch: Claudia Pena
Expectation: 3rd in pool
Pool Prediction: 3rd
Fixtures:
Sunday 24th August, 5:30pm vs New Zealand at the York Community Stadium
Sunday 31st August, 12pm vs Ireland at Franklin's Gardens
Sunday 7th September, 12pm vs Japan at the York Community Stadium
SQUAD
Hooker: Cristina Blanco - Nuria Jou - Marieta Roman
Prop: Ines Antolinez - Sidorella Bracic - Mireia de Andres - Laura Delgado(CC) - Eider Garcia - Gemma Silva
Lock: Lourdes Alameda - Monica Castelo - Elena Martinez - Ana Peralto - Anna Puig - Victoria Rosell
Back Row: Nerea Garcia - Alba Capell - Valentina Perez - Lia Pineiro -
Scrum Half: Maider Aresti - Anne Fernandez de Corres - Bingbing Vergara
Fly Half: Amalia Argudo
Centre: Lea Ducher - Claudia Perez - Zahia Perez - Alba Vinuesa(CC)
WIng: Claudia Cano - Ana Cortes - Tecla Masoko - Clara Piqeuro
Fullback: Claudia Pena
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