England’s Red Roses and USA Open Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 – What Have They Been Saying

After what seems an endless wait, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 kicks off with England’s Red Roses playing the USA in Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on 22 August 2025. There will be plenty of pre-tournament entertainment and ceremonies before kickoff with the Opening Show presented by O2.

The Opening Show features chart-topping English singer and songwriter Anne-Marie prior to kick-off, and with as many as 44,000 fans expected for the opening game, the atmosphere should be fantastic.

Anne-Marie said: “I’m so excited to perform at the Opening Show presented by O2 and be part of this massive moment for women’s sport. Now that I’ve got a daughter of my own, it means even more to be involved in something that shows the next generation that they can do anything. I know Sunderland is going to be going crazy, and I can’t wait to be part of it!” 

England is seeking a third Rugby World Cup title and has only lost one match in their past 58 games, which was the RWC final in New Zealand. England have also won 22 of their previous 23 Rugby World Cup Pool stage matches, while the USA has won their opening game at six of the previous nine editions of the RWC.

• Keel Sq. Fan Zone open from 09:00
• Community parade at 16:30
• Gates open at 17:30
• Players arrive at 18:00
• Anne-Marie performs live at 19:00
• Kick-off at 19:30

What the USA Women have Said

Photo Credit – World Rugby

For the USA, they will be underdogs, having only ever beaten the English once in 20 Tests, but they will be boosted by the news that US TV station CBS Prime will be showing the game live in the US, and members of the USA 1991 World Cup team have flown in to see the game:

Sione Fukofuka, head coach of the USA, said, “It’s pretty exciting. We know what’s going to happen, but getting the chance to come and orient and run through our paces was pretty positive. You heard (the noise) out there. We tried to create as much noise as possible to distract the players. With that noise comes energy and we’re really going to soak it in and embrace it.”

On how to keep the team relaxed until kick-off, he added, “This group has been really positive. The back end of the week is the players’ time, so we’ve tried to step back as much as possible, and our leadership group does a great job at managing that. We have our jersey presentation tonight to connect, come together and celebrate with family. We try to let the players have space.

USA player Rachel Johnson explained, “It’s a privilege in this opening match, a second World Cup feels a little surreal. The stadium’s in great condition, and it is going to be tremendous. It’s such a privilege to represent my team, my people and my country, and I can’t wait.

I’m excited to see the ’91 legacy. They have been supporting us the whole journey. What also feels really special is more young people in America who don’t just recognise our sport but identify with it and are playing it or know someone who is playing. I think it’s a family game and it’s really cool to see America embrace that, and it’s cool to be a part of that.”

Emily Henrich added of the playing surface at the Sunderland stadium, “First time here. Love the stadium, love that it’s like a bowl. I think they’re cool; there are no corners. Can’t wait to see it absolutely packed. A lot of us in the States grew up playing on rugby pitches that are soccer pitches converted into rugby pitches or multi-purpose fields. To then take a field like this, really knowing that it’s leaving nothing to chance, it’s really exciting.”

Kate Zackary, the USA captain, added of her expectations, “I’m expecting a lot of ‘Go USA’ in the stands! In all seriousness, the atmosphere is going to be electric. They’ve done a great job marketing this game. It’s going to be a massive crowd. As a team, the messaging through the week has been ‘the past is the past’, not just against England.”

Photo Credit – World Rugby

USA player and social media superstar Ilona Maher said, “Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies. I think we can be a world-class team. We talk a lot about game-changers, and I think we are a team that is changing the game on and off the field a lot. This is a time where women’s rugby is in a state where it could grow massively and I do believe this team is at the forefront with how we present ourselves and people’s perception of us. We want more people to have eyes on the game, and it will be great to see more stadiums sold out.”

Maher said of the hype in America, “We’re doing our best as a team also to build that excitement because you go back to America, not many people know that there’s a Women’s Rugby World Cup going on, so we try to get as many people as we can to spread that knowledge. “We want the fans in America to see us play here because we’ve got a World Cup there in eight years and we need to start building for that.”

Hear From The Red Roses

Photo Credit – World Rugby

Former player turned assistant coach for the Red Roses, Sarah Hunter said of playing in Sunderland, “I’ve been buzzing since we got told that the World Cup was going to come to the north-east. You can tell how excited I am about my home region and that it’s to be the opening game and the Red Roses game.”

From England’s perspective, Red Roses’ iconic player Emily Scarrett will be in her fifth Rugby World Cup and starts against the USA among the reserves, but said, “I’m absolutely buzzing, but ultimately, it’s just another game of rugby. I think as exciting as it is – all of this build-up, all of the branding, the tunnel is epic, everything about it is so cool – when we come to it tomorrow, it’s just another game.”

Emily Scarratt is the top point scorer in Women’s Rugby World Cup history, and 175 points are 50 more than any other player. She will become the first England player – female or male – to feature in five editions of a Rugby World Cup.

England Women’s Head Coach John Mitchell said of Emily Scarratt being on the bench coming into her fifth Rugby World Cup, “She brings leadership. She has a presence where she is a mentor to a lot of the younger players, and because of that experience of World Cups, she’s very calm around the group.

The Rugby World Cup is a huge vehicle for us to have a presence. I heard that before this tournament, a few years ago, as far back as 2018, we only had 1% watching. By the end of 2025, we’ll have something like 20%. That’s still not enough. The only way we can have a presence is by being watched, and this is simply a vehicle for women’s rugby and English rugby to prosper from.

The Red Roses deserve these crowds. It’s what they play for. They’ve been in some of those environments in the past three years and it’s what drives them, I think. These girls deserve to have big crowds every week and it’s great to be able to do it in their home country” added the Red Roses Head Coach.

Photo Credit – World Rugby

England captain Zoe Aldcroft explained her emotions of playing in Sunderland, “It’s so great to be in the north and connect with the fans. I also went to uni in Newcastle as well so I have some of the girls coming down.

I’m so excited, this week’s been going at snail’s pace, waiting for Friday night. We have done all the talking for the last three years, and it’s time to put it into action now.”

Red Roses Vice-captain Megan Jones concluded, “My biggest thing to come out of this World Cup is probably to have young girls get into sport. It doesn’t have to be rugby. This whole summer campaign of women’s sport, how huge it can go and commercially how big it can grow as well. I look around, and this is no detriment to us, but we’ve got a lot of male staff, and I’d love to see more females in those positions. That would be beautiful.”

Where to Watch The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

You can view the different broadcast options for the RWC 2025 globally here.

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