Rugby World Cup kick-off time, TV channel, live stream, team news, lineups, h2h, odds - The Red Rose hope to open their World Cup campaign with a statement win

Loughborough Lightning and USA international Kathryn Treder is set to feature in the Womens Rugby World Cup; she is a Stanford graduate and also works as a data scientist; England play USA in the tour

Excitement is building at Medway RFC ahead of the start of the Women’s Rugby World Cup. Priestfields will be buzzing tomorrow night (Friday) when the Red Roses start their 2025 World Cup challenge against the USA (7.30pm) at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.

But when the call came to represent the Red Roses, Shekells didn’t hesitate because she believes this home World Cup is a massive moment for women’s rugby in England. “I’m excited to see where the women’s game will go,” Shekells told Standard Sport. “It’s already on the rise, and I think a home World Cup will make it explode.

Sarah Hunter, the Red Roses defence coach, believes this month’s Women’s Rugby World Cup will attract more women into coaching roles.

Four nations taking part in the Women's Rugby World Cup have been welcomed to England with a ceremony in a town. The teams of Brazil, Ireland, Japan and South Africa attended an official welcome ceremony at Northampton's Guildhall on Saturday, ahead of the tournament, which begins on Friday.