Ranked 12th in the world, the Springbok Women will face formidable competition in France, currently ranked fourth, and Italy, ranked eighth. Brazil, ranked 42nd, rounds off the group.
The stage is set for a thrilling Rugby World Cup 2025 as the Springbok Women have been drawn into Pool D alongside powerhouses France, Italy, and Brazil.
The draw, announced on Thursday evening in London, has ignited excitement for the tournament, set to take place in England from August 22 to September 27 2025.
Ranked 12th in the world, the Springbok Women will face formidable competition in France, currently ranked fourth, and Italy, ranked eighth. Brazil, ranked 42nd, rounds off the group, making their presence in the tournament one to watch as they face the South African side for the first time in Test rugby.
This draw brings a mix of familiarity and new challenges for the Springbok women. They previously faced France in the opening game of the 2021 Rugby World Cup in Auckland and just last weekend went up against Italy in the final match of the WXV 2 tournament in Cape Town. Brazil, however, represents a fresh opponent for South Africa, adding to the intrigue of this Pool D contest.
Swys de Bruin, the Springbok women’s performance coach, expressed the excitement within the squad, saying the draw is another step closer to the World Cup. He emphasised the momentum built from recent performances, especially during the WXV 2 tournament.
“The puzzle is getting closer and closer to completion, and the only thing remaining is the announcement next Tuesday of the playing schedule and team venues,” De Bruin said. “That means we can start to focus and prepare with a clear picture in mind, and that is always an exciting part of any campaign.”
The tournament itself promises to be an unmissable spectacle, with fans and teams eagerly awaiting next week’s unveiling of the match schedule.
Sarah Massey, Managing Director of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, highlighted the importance of this moment: “Next week will see the tournament celebrate another exciting milestone as we unveil the match schedule, allowing fans, host locations, and teams to start preparing their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 experience in earnest.”
With some tough competition ahead, the Springbok Women will look to build on their recent form and deliver strong performances against the world’s best teams as they prepare for the biggest stage in women’s rugby.
The pools for the tournament are as follows:
Pool A: England, Australia, USA, Samoa
Pool B: Canada, Scotland, Wales, Fiji
Pool C: New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, Spain
Pool D: France, Italy, South Africa, Brazil