Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025: Dark Horses Ready to Challenge in England

The Women’s Rugby World Cup is reaching its decisive phase, with the final set for September 27 at Twickenham.

England head into the final weekend of pool play as overwhelming favourites to claim their first World Cup title since 2014, with home advantage and a perfect tournament record positioning the Red Roses for a breakthrough campaign.

The hosts have cruised through Pool A unbeaten and sit as 1/4 favourites to end an 11-year wait for global glory.

Standing in their path are defending champions New Zealand, who have built the most dominant dynasty in women’s rugby by winning four of the last five World Cups.

The Black Ferns secured their quarter-final spot with comprehensive victories and remain outsiders in the betting, despite having such a dangerous and experienced squad, which most UK free bet offers have at 9/2.

A More Open Affair

While the opening rounds featured several one-sided scorelines that suggested another predictable tournament, the knockout stages promise far greater competitiveness.

The development of women’s rugby globally has created a more open World Cup field that we’ve seen in years, with multiple nations capable of causing upsets when the stakes are highest.

This weekend’s final pool matches will determine seedings for next week’s quarter-finals, with those positions crucial for avoiding the tournament favourites. Pool winners face runners-up from other groups, meaning strong finishes could provide more favourable draws.

Seven teams have already secured quarter-final spots alongside whoever claims the remaining positions. England’s dominance of Pool A contrasts with tighter battles elsewhere, where several nations have genuine chances of causing problems for the established powers.

And while there have been some early drubbings, there are still a few nations more than capable of causing an upset to the bigger teams like England and New Zealand.

Outsiders To Watch

Among the underdogs, Canada look the most capable of shaking up the established order. Two wins from two, including a six-try, 42-0 dismantling of Wales, have underlined their credentials.

They are likely to meet New Zealand in the semi-finals if the brackets play out as expected, and while that would be a massive challenge, the Canucks have enough power and organisation to make it interesting. For punters looking for value, they are the most serious dark horse.

Scotland’s qualification represents their best World Cup performance and has boosted optimism around their 150/1 odds.

While those prices remain ambitious, the Scots have shown improvement throughout the tournament and benefit from recent stability with Gregor Townsend extending his contract until 2027.

They face Canada in Exeter this weekend for Pool B’s top spot, with both teams already through. The winner will likely avoid England in the quarter-finals, making this clash crucial for both nations’ prospects.

Perhaps the tournament’s most compelling story has been South Africa reaching their first-ever World Cup quarter-final. The Springbok Women secured their historic achievement with an impressive 29-24 victory over Italy at York, showcasing the attacking flair that has made them tournament entertainers.

Their clash with France on Sunday will decide Pool D’s winner, but South Africa have already exceeded expectations. At 25/1, they represent genuine value for nations seeking an upset pick, with their direct style potentially disrupting more structured opponents.

France, meanwhile, demonstrated their scoring power with an 84-5 demolition of Brazil and remain 8/1 shots after reaching the 2021 semi-finals. Les Bleues possess the individual brilliance to trouble any team on their day.

Samoa Win Hearts, If Not Matches

Every World Cup produces a feel-good story, and this one belongs to Samoa. Their squad is made up of players juggling family life, full-time jobs and unpaid leave to represent their country.

Many have spoken about setting alarms in the middle of the night in New Zealand or Samoa to wake their kids for school before training. They may finish bottom of their pool, but they have earned the respect of neutrals and left a mark far beyond the scoreboard.

Brazil, the lowest-ranked side in the tournament, have also taken their lumps. Heavy defeats to South Africa and France underline the gap between emerging nations and the elite. Yet World Rugby insists their presence matters, giving valuable exposure and experience to programmes still finding their feet.

The expanded competition means England can’t take their spot in the final for granted, even on home soil. Their professional setup and the support of the crowd make them clear favourites, but the knockout rounds can be unforgiving. New Zealand’s experience and pedigree mean they’re still the team to beat, yet sides like Canada, France, and South Africa have shown they can upset the established order.

For the tournament’s outsiders, this is their chance to shine. A single inspired performance or a well-timed upset could completely shift the momentum, and the knockouts are where reputations are made. England have never had a better opportunity to end New Zealand’s dominance, but they’ll need to navigate the challenges posed not just by the Black Ferns, but by the hungry, rising teams eager to make their mark.