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Latest News
Springbok Women

RWC 2021

Tue 23 February, 2021

Springbok Women ready to step out of the shadows at Rugby World Cup 2021

South Africa’s new women’s rugby high performance manager Lynne Cantwell hopes Rugby World Cup 2021 will help inspire a new generation of players.
Kelly Brazier playing Hong Kong at RWC 2017

RWC 2021

Tue 23 February, 2021

Kelly Brazier “pumped” ahead of potential Olympic-Rugby World Cup double

We caught up with the two-time Rugby World Cup winner, who is hoping to play at both Tokyo 2020 and New Zealand 2021.
Women's International: Spain v Scotland

Rugby World Cup 2021

Thu 18 February, 2021

Women’s Rugby Europe Championship: Spain ready to start their road to Rugby World Cup 2021

Las Leonas have a key game against Russia this weekend in Guadalajara in the Women’s Rugby Europe Championship, aiming to continue chasing their dream of qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2021.
Bella Milo playing for Valley

Women in Rugby

Wed 17 February, 2021

Bella Milo: Rugby World Cup 2021 could have huge impact on women’s rugby in Hong Kong and Pacific Islands

The Samoa fly-half talks to World Rugby about New Zealand 2021, coaching and how she hopes to “give back” to the game.
NatashaOlson-Thorne of Hong Kong

RWC 2021

Wed 10 February, 2021

Asia Rugby Women’s Championship update

The Asia Rugby Women’s Championship also acts as a Rugby World Cup 2021 qualification tournament.
Latest Videos
WR awards thumb
1:36:38 mins

Awards

Mon 7 December, 2020

World Rugby Awards Special Edition - watch the whole show

Re-live the World Rugby Awards Special Edition and find out the winners of the Player, Try and Team of the Decade 2010-19 for both men and women, plus celebrate rugby's heroes of COVID-19.
Full Draw ceremony for Rugby World Cup 2021
27:21 mins

RWC 2021

Thu 19 November, 2020

Full Draw ceremony for Rugby World Cup 2021

Live show hosts and interviewers react post-draw
01:20 mins

Thu 19 November, 2020

Live show hosts and interviewers react post-draw

Live programme hosts Elma Smit and Ugo Monye spoke with New Zealand broadcasters and co-hosts Karl Tenana and Rikki Swannell after the draw.
Alycia Washington USA post-draw interview
03:04 mins

Thu 19 November, 2020

Alycia Washington USA post-draw interview

Kendra Cocksedge NZL Post-draw interview
03:12 mins

Thu 19 November, 2020

Kendra Cocksedge NZL Post-draw interview

RWC 2021
Thursday 19 November, 2020

Pools confirmed for Rugby World Cup 2021

Presented By
The pools have been confirmed for Rugby World Cup 2021 with less than 10 months until the ninth edition of the tournament kicks off in Auckland on 18 September, 2021.
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  • Reigning champions New Zealand to face Australia, Wales and the Final Qualification Tournament Winner in Pool A
  • Canada to face USA, Europe 1 and Asia 1 in Pool B
  • England drawn in Pool C alongside France, South Africa and Fiji
  • RWC 2021 Draw was attended by 400 guests in SkyCity Theatre, Auckland
  • The tournament will be hosted in the southern hemisphere for the first time
  • Tournament set to take place from 18 September–16 October, 2021

The pools have been confirmed for Rugby World Cup 2021 with less than 10 months until the ninth edition of the tournament kicks off in Auckland on 18 September, 2021.

Reigning champions New Zealand are set to face Australia, Wales and the Final Qualification Tournament Winner in Pool A.

Pool B sees Canada set to face USA for the first time in the pool stages of a Rugby World Cup alongside Europe 1 and Asia 1.

Rugby World Cup 2017 runners-up England are drawn in Pool C alongside bronze medallists France, South Africa and Fiji, who are set to make their Rugby World Cup debut.

Re-live the Rugby World Cup 2021 Draw >>

The Rugby World Cup 2021 Draw saw New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, together with Rugby World Cup winners Melodie Robinson, Dr Farah Palmer and Dan Carter,  draw the balls for the ninth edition of the showcase event. 

Global audiences and more than 400 guests at SkyCity Theatre received a moving cultural welcome from Ngāti Whātua as the kaikaranga (callers) opened the event with the unique Māori tradition.

Seven teams qualified directly for RWC 2021 courtesy of a top-seven finish at the last tournament in Ireland in 2017, defending champions New Zealand, runners-up England, bronze medallists France, losing semi-finalists USA, Canada, Australia and Wales.

Fiji and South Africa confirmed their places through the regional qualification process back in 2019, via the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship.

The remaining three places will be filled by a qualifier from Asia and Europe together with the winner of the Final Qualification Tournament, a first for a women’s Rugby World Cup, offering a second opportunity for teams to qualify.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont, who could not be in attendance owing to the ongoing global pandemic, voiced confidence in New Zealand Rugby to deliver a game-changing event to supercharge women’s rugby globally.

Beaumont said: “New Zealand 2021 will be one of the great Rugby World Cups. It will be a celebration of the host nation, of world-class rugby and women in rugby and it will play a huge role in inspiring more women, girls and boys to get into rugby.

“Today marks an important step towards that ambition. It is the day that the teams and fans have been waiting for with great anticipation, the moment the tournament truly comes alive and the final preparations begin in earnest.

“2021 will be a golden year for women in rugby with the Olympics and collectively we are ready to convert that opportunity into impactful and sustainable momentum for the women’s game and the growth of the sport as a whole.”

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, speaking at the draw, said: “After all this World Cup is an opportunity. An opportunity to grow the game here but also internationally an opportunity to showcase our elite athletes and provide inspiration for girls, and boys. An opportunity to break down gender discrimination in sport. And finally an opportunity to extend the manaakitanga that New Zealand is famous for. We are committed to a spectacular Rugby World Cup 2021 and we can’t wait to welcome all 12 teams to Aotearoa New Zealand.”

Black Ferns captain Eloise Blackwell, speaking at the event, said: “Sitting there next to Fiao'o Fa'amausili, a legend of the game, and it was pretty nerve-racking watching those balls being picked out. It’s interesting how the pools have come out; we’ve got an Australasian pool, a North American pool and a European pool. Across the pools, there are some quality teams.”

The Rugby World Cup 2021 match schedule will be announced later in the year.

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