The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 kicks off tomorrow, with a sold-out game of England vs USA – an apt opener for what promises to be six weeks of incredible rugby in front of the biggest crowds ever for women’s rugby.
As women’s rugby stands on the precipice of newfound popularity and visibility, The Sporting News takes a look at some of the athletes participating across the tournament, both vastly experienced and exciting new faces, who promise to deliver some stellar shows of rugby across the next six weeks.
Hannah Botterman – England
The Red Roses have become the team to be feared in recent years as world number ones, and Botterman has become a key pillar to England’s power, having been capped at just 18 years old, and currently holding 58 caps at just 26 years old.
The formidable prop is known for her immovable presence and excellent technique within scrums, as well as her ability to break tackles and gain crucial meters.
She was one of the original players offered a full time contract by the RFU after just one appearance for the Red Roses and has been a consistent presence across the Red Roses victories, including their grand-slam winning 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign.
Although this will not be her first World Cup, Botterman will be entering the competition with something to prove, as a knee injury in the latter stages of the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand took her out of place and relegated her to the sides to watch her team lose against New Zealand in the final.
Especially given that the semifinals will be played at Botterman’s domestic club stadium, Ashton Gate in Bristol, she will be looking to pull out all the stops and put on a performance.
Jorja Miller – New Zealand
Despite being just 21 years old, Jorja Miller has quickly established herself as one of the next rugby greats. The openside flanker, despite being on the smaller side of the position, consistently brings unstoppable physicality and agility, with an ability to pull of game changing line breaks.
Miller has a background in both sevens and fifteens rugby, having become the youngest female gold medalist at Paris in 2024 with the Black Ferns sevens team. Her list of accolades doesn’t stop there either: Miller won World Rugby’s Rookie of the Year after her first season in 2022, as well as being the recipient of the highly prestigious Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Award in 2024, which goes to New Zealand’s leading rugby player.
This injection of youth and vivacity in combination with such impressive experience is exactly what the Black Ferns need as they come to England to defend their current title. Miller will be co-captaining the squad alongside Kennedy Tukuafu and will be sure to make a real impact in her first fifteens World Cup.
Dannah O’Brien – Ireland
The world number five’s Ireland have had an overhaul of their tactics and performance recently, due in no small part to the presence of fly half Dannah O’Brien.
Head coach Scott Bemand has been said to build the Shamrocks game plan around this 21 year old, renowned for her ridiculous capabilities kicking – being able to kick penalties as far as the men, and easily from one 22 to the other.
Alongside this pure power, O’Brien is also a skilled tactician, consistently distributing the ball to teammates in a way that shows a true mastery of the game.
Having debuted at just 19 years old, she has already earned a quarter-century of caps and proved her mettle time and time again. One of her many highlights was undeniably her winning conversion in the final of WXV 1 2024, just beating the World Champions New Zealand 29 – 27.
Other than that, she has also proved her adaptability on the pitch, flitting between 9, 10 and 12 during the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations. In a tough pool, facing New Zealand, Japan and Spain in Pool C, O’Brien’s talents will no doubt be a key part of the Shamrock’s road to success.
Hope Rogers – USA
Coming to England as one of the Eagles’ key fountains of knowledge, Hope Rogers is the most experienced in the American side as the most capped player with a staggering 55.
The prop has long established her dominance in both international and domestic performances, having quickly become a key part of her club Exeter Chief’s starting XV, scoring an average of almost a try per game in the last PWR.
This will be Roger’s fourth World Cup – and her expertise will take on even more gravity not only due to the World Cup being in England, where she plays domestically, but also due to the USA’s extremely fresh squad, with 15 going to their first World Cup.
Rogers has established her place in the team’s starting XV over the warm-up games ahead of the World Cup, especially when she scored a hat-trick against Australia back in May.
Given that the USA will have a tough fight against England as their first World Cup match tomorrow, Rogers will be a player to watch in the USA’s offensive.
Sophie de Goede – Canada
The Canada captain is back, after leading the Maple Leafs to the semi-finals against England in the semifinals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2022.
The back rower leading the world number two’s is renowned for her storming carries and ability to gain meters. Playing for PWR club Saracens, she has quickly reached legendary status, scoring her first try back for the club in just four minutes, and over 80 points across the last season.
The number eight is a unique talent due to her goal-kicking ability as a forward and has been internationally recognised for her skills as she was nominated for the World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year 2024.
However, this tournament marks De Goede’s return to international rugby after a harrowing ACL injury in June 2024, which saw her having to relinquish her Olympic dream. She will be coming into the competition raring to prove – for both herself and her team – that Canada can go the distance again.
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