#womens-rugby-world-cup

#womens-rugby-world-cup

France enjoyed a one-sided 57-10 victory over South Africa at Franklin's Gardens to take top spot in Women's Rugby World Cup Pool D, scoring nine tries with two each for Emilie Boulard and Joanna Grisez. They will take on Ireland at Sandy Park in Exeter next Sunday in the last eight. The scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus earned a second straight player of the match award for orchestrating France's highest score over the Springbok Women in front of a sellout crowd of 15,000.

It's exactly what we wanted, Hunt said. Coming into it, we didn't know we needed that but I think, on reflection, it was fantastic for us. Australia really brought it, especially in that first half. We felt pressure we hadn't felt in the start of the tournament so far and it was really good for us to get that under our belt. Also to work out that rugby contest and come out with a scoreline like that is a testament to the girls.

Tense. Gripping. A proper Test match. Australia put England under the most pressure they have faced in a long time with a superb first half performance but the Red Roses pulled away in the second half to seal a quarter-final against Scotland and their 30th win in a row, which equalled their own world record. The scoreline was not a true reflection of what a battle this final Pool A match was with England not taking the lead until the 33rd minute.

So much has been said about the wing, with the former Black Fern Kendra Cocksedge saying she isn't human and the New Zealand star Ruby Tui describing her as out of this world. Woodman-Wickliffe broke New Zealand's all-time try-scoring record as the Black Ferns secured their quarter-final place with a big win. Woodman-Wickliffe surpassed Doug Howlett, who scored 49 tries in 63 games while the Black Ferns legend reached the 50-mark in 30 Tests.

The 2025-26 Premiership rugby season will commence with a historic Thursday night fixture between Sale Sharks and Gloucester on 25 September at Salford Stadium.