England's Lark Atkin-Davies scores a try during the pool A match between England and United States at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, northeast England, on August 22, 2025. PAUL ELLIS / AFP
Tournament hosts England and favorites England launched the Women's Rugby World Cup on Friday with a crushing 69-7 win over the United States in Sunderland. The Red Roses, the world's top-ranked side, ran in 11 tries against a gutsy but outclassed Eagles team, with Ellie Kildunne, the reigning world player of the year, Jess Breach and replacement forward Lark Atkin-Davies all scoring two apiece.
Victory meant England, the world's top-ranked side, have lost only once in their past 59 matches – a defeat by coach John Mitchell's native New Zealand in the Covid-delayed 2022 World Cup final. Beaten in five of the past six World Cup finals by New Zealand, England are under huge pressure to win the showpiece tournament for the first time since 2014.
When England lost to the United States in the inaugural 1991 World Cup final, the match was played in front of crowd of just 3,000 at Cardiff Arms Park. Such has been the growth of women's rugby union, there were 42,723 spectators – a record for any Women's Rugby World Cup match – in attendance at Premier League football club Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Friday.
