Women's World Cup Starts
There are twelve countries taking part – Australia, Canada, England, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, the USA and Wales.
They are divided into three pools with four teams in each pool.
Pool A: Australia, France, Ireland, Japan
Pool B: England, Italy, Spain, USA
Pool C: Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Wales.
That means three matches for each team within its pool. The dates for those are 9 August, 13 August and 17 August. The semifinals take place on 22 August with the finals round on 26 August 2017.
Betting would suggest that most likely final is England vs New Zealand. But…
Previous Winners
The first Women's World Cup to have the International Rugby Board's approval was that of 1998, but we have included the first two, one in Wales, the other in Scotland.
1991: Wales
1994: England
1998: New Zealand
2002: New Zealand
2006: New Zealand
2010: New Zealand
2014: England
Fixtures, with Match officials
Round 1
England vs Spain at University College Dublin Bowl
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Sean Gallagher (Ireland), Rose LaBrèche (Canada)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
New Zealand vs Wales at Billings Park, University College Dublin
Referee: Amy Perrett (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ian Tempest (England) Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Television match official: Kevin Beggs
USA vs Italy at University College Dublin Bowl
Referee: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
Assistant referees: Sean Gallagher (Ireland), Marie Lematte (France)
Television match official: David Grashoff (England)
Canada vs Hong Kong at Billings Park, University College Dublin
Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Claire Hodnett (England) Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
Television match official: Kevin Beggs (Ireland)
Ireland vs Australia at University College Dublin Bowl
Assistant referees: Tim Baker (Hong Kong)
Assistant referees: Sara Cox (England), Rose LaBrèche (Canada)
Television match official: David Grashoff (England)
France vs Japan at Billings Park, University College Dublin
Referee: Graham Cooper (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ian Tempest (England) Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Teams
AUSTRALIA: Millie Boyle, Chloe Butler, Cheyenne Campbell, Rebecca Clough, Mollie Gray, Grace Hamilton, Alisha Hewett, Evelyn Horomia, Kiri Lingman, Hana Ngaha, Shannon Parry, Liz Patu, Emily Robinson, Hilisha Samoa, Alexandra Sulusi, Violeta Tupuola, Katrina Barker, Fenella Hake, Ashleigh Hewson (15 Tests), Nareta Marsters, Mahalia Murphy, Trilleen Pomare, Sarah Riordan, Kayla Sauvao, Huia Swanell, Ashleigh Timoko, Samantha Terherne, Sharni Williams
CANADA: Elissa Alarie, Emily Belchos, Tyson Beukeboom, Latoya Blackwood, Andrea Burk, Olivia DeMerchant, Jacey Grusnick, Chelsea Guthrie, Magali Harvey, Lori Josephson, Brittany Kassil, Jane Kirby, Kayla Mack, Carolyn McEwen, DaLeaka Menin, Barbara Mervin, Brianna Miller, Chelsey Minter, Cindy Nelles, Karen Paquin, Frederique Rajotte, Laura Russell, Kelly Russell, Kristy Sargent, Alex Tessier, Amanda Thornborough, Brittany Waters, Julianne Zussman,
ENGLAND: Zoe Aldcroft, Sarah Bern, Rochelle Clark, Amy Cokayne, Vickii Cornborough, Vicky Fleetwood, Sarah Hunter (captain), Heather Kerr, Justine Lucas, Alex Matthews, Harriet Millar-Mills, Izzy Noel-Smith, Marlie Packer, Abbie Scott, Tamara Taylor, Rachael Burford, Natasha Hunt, Megan Jones, La Toya Mason, Katy Mclean, Amber Reed, Leanne Riley, Emily Scarratt, Emily Scott, Lydia Thompson, Danielle Waterman, Kay Wilson, Amy Wilson Hardy
FRANCE: Manon André, Julie Annery, Lise Arricastre, Patricia Carricaburu, Lénaïg Corson, Annaëlle Deshayes, Julie Duval, Céline Ferer, Audrey Forlani, Romane Menager, Gaëlle Mignot (captain), Safi N’Diaye, Caroline Thomas, Dhia Traore, Audrey Abadie, Montserrat Amédée, Caroline Boujard, Caroline Drouin, Elodie Guiglion, Shannon Izar, Caroline Ladagnous, Jade Le Pesq, Marjorie Mayans, Carla Neisen, Chloé Pelle, Elodie Poublan, Yanna Rivoalen, Jessy Tremouliere.
HONG KONG: Chow Mei-Nam (captain), Chan Ka-Yan, Royce Chan, Chan Tsz-Ching, Christy Cheng, Cheung Shuk-Han, Christine Gordon, Lau Nga-Wun, Lee Ka-Shun, Pun Wai-Yan, Amelie Secure, Winnie Siu, Winnie; Karen So, Tsang Sin-Yan, Wong Yuen-Shan, Adrienne Garvey, Chong Ka-Yan, Laurel Chor, Kelsie Bouttle, Jessica Ho, Rose Hopewell-Fong, Lau Sze-Wa, Lee Tsz-Ting, Mak Ho-Yee, Natasha Olson-Thorne, Poon Pak-Yan, Colleen Tjosvold, Lindsay Varty.
ITALY: Elisa Cucchiella, Marta Ferrari, Lucia Gai, Gaia Giacomoli, Melissa Bettoni, Lucia Cammarano, Valeria Fedrighi, Valentina Ruzza, Flavia Severin, Sara Tounesi, Alice Trevisan, Ilaria Arrighetti, Michela Este, Silvia Gaudino, Elisa Giordano, Isabella Locatelli, Sara Barattin (captain), Claudia Salvadego, Beatrice Rigoni, Veronica Schiavon, Maria Grazia Cioffi, Manuela Furlan, Veronica Madia, Maria Magatti, Aura Muzzo, Michela Sillari, Sofia Stefan, Paola Zangirolami.
IRELAND: Ashleigh Baxter, Anna Caplice, Ciara Cooney, Ailis Egan, Paula Fitzpatrick, Ciara Griffin, Leah Lyons, Claire Molloy (captain), Cliodhna Moloney, Heather O’Brien, Ciara O’Connor, Ruth O’Reilly, Lindsay Peat, Marie-Louise Reilly, Sophie Spence, Louise Galvin, Eimear Considine, Mairead Coyne, Nicole Cronin, Jeamie Deacon, Katie Fitzhenry, Claire McLaughlin, Alison Miller, Larissa Muldoon, Jenny Murphy, Sene Naoupu, Nora Stapleton, Hannah Tyrrell
JAPAN: Makoto Ebuchi, Mizuho Kataoka, Seina Saito (captain), Ayano Sakurai, Yui Shiozaki, Yuki Sue, Ayaka Suzuki, Sayaka Suzuki, Misaki Suzuki, Maki Takano, Aya Nakajima, Ai Hyugaji, Maiko Fujimoto, Mateitoga Bogidraumainadave, Saki Minami, Aoi Mimura, Keiko Kato, Riho Kurogi, Mayu Shimizu, Ai Tasaka, Moe Tsukui, Honoka Tsutsumi, Makiko Tomita, Iroha Nagata, Yumeno Noda, Eriko Hirano, Wasana Fukushima, Minori Yamamoto
NEW ZEALAND: Aldora Itunu, Toka Natua, Aleisha Nelson, Sosoli Talawadua, Fiao’o Faamausili (captain), Becky Wood, Charmaine Smith, Eloise Blackwell, Charmaine McMenamin, Les Ketu, Linda Itunu, Rawinia Everitt, Sarah Goss, Te-Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Aroha Savage, Aotearoa (Katie) Mata’u, Stacey Waaka, Kelly Brazier, Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, Kendra Cocksedge, Kristina Sue, Hazel Tubic, Renee Wickliffe, Portia Woodman, Selica Winiata, Carla Hohepa, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Chelsea Alley
SPAIN: Forwards: García, Elena Redondo, María Ribera, Lourdes Alameda, Diana Gassó, Paula Medín, Ángela del Pan, Carmen Pérez, Patricia García, Anne Fernández de Corres, Carlota Méliz, María Ahís, Amaia Erbina, Bárbara García, Bárbara Pla (pictured), María Casado, Uri Barrutieta, Iera Echebarría, Vanesa Rial, Marina Bravo
USA: Kathryn Augustyn, Catherine Benson, Sylvia Braaten, Stacey Bridges, Kayla Canett, Cheta Emba, Tiffany Faaee, Jordan Gray, Abby Gustaitis, Nicole Heavirland, Nicole James, Jessica Javelet, Alev Kelter, Deven Owsiany, Samantha Pankey, Sara Parsons, Annakaren Pedraza, Christiane Pheil, Naima Reddick, Jamila Reinhardt, Hope Rogers, Kimber Rozier, Kristine Sommer, Naya Tapper, Kristen Thomas, Alycia Washington, Jess Wooden, Kate Zackary.
WALES: Alisha Butchers, Mel Clay, Amy Evans, Lleucu George, Cerys Hale, Sioned Harries, Morfudd Ifans, Kelsey Jones, Siwan Lillicrap, Carys Phillips (captain), Shona Powell-Hughes, Gwenllian Pyrs, Rebecca Rowe, Rachel Taylor, Caryl Thomas, Megan York, Keira Bevan, Elen Evans, Jodie Evans, Rebecca De Filippo, Dyddgu Hywel, Hannah Jones, Jasmine Joyce, Sian Moore, Jess Kavanagh-Williams, Gemma Rowland, Elinor Snowsill, Robyn Wilkins
