Bok Women face new opponents in RWC opener

NEWS: The Springbok Women will play Brazil in their opening match of the 2025 World Cup in England, facing their Pool D opponents for the first time at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton on Sunday August 24.

South Africa will then travel north to York for their second pool match, where they will meet Italy at the York Community Stadium on August 31, before returning to Northampton for their final pool match against France on Sunday, September 7, at Franklin’s Gardens.

World Rugby announced the fixture list of the global showpiece on Tuesday, with hosts England opening the tournament against the USA at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, near Newcastle in the north of the country, on Friday, August 22.

The defending champions, New Zealand, will begin their campaign against Spain at York Community Stadium two days later, on the same day that South Africa will face Brazil.

Springbok Women’s high-performance coach Swys de Bruin said the planning for the campaign has started and although some details of warm-up matches and tours are still being finalised, it is good to know exactly what is coming their way during the World Cup.

“Brazil will be a fresh challenge, as we have not played them at all, while we have clearer and more recent pictures of Italy and France, so we know we will have to prepare well,” said De Bruin.

“It is also nice to be able to play two matches at Franklin’s Gardens, a proud English rugby venue, and we are looking forward to the York visit as well. All in all, with regards to the draw and schedule, it is really a satisfactory outcome for us, and the challenge will be to use that to our advantage.

Pool D is going to be a showstopper 👏#RWC2025 | #ThisEnergyNeverStops pic.twitter.com/a7f67nYCWx

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 22, 2024

“We certainly hope for good support from South Africans residing in the UK to come out and enjoy the journey with us. We are determined to come back home next year with our best RWC result ever.”

Springbok Women RWC 2025 Pool D fixtures:

South Africa v Brazil
Date: Sunday, August 24
Venue: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
Kick-off: 14.45 (15.45 SA time)

Italy v South Africa
Date: Sunday, August 31
Venue: York Community Stadium, York
Kick-off: 15.30 (16.30 SA time)

France v South Africa
Date: Sunday, September 7
Venue: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
Kick-off: 16.45 (17.45 SA time)

For the full match schedule, click HERE