Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 (England) – Group Stage Results
New Zealand had a dominant game against Spain, winning 54–8. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe added another try to her World Cup record, which is pretty impressive. The score was 21–3 at halftime, and New Zealand just kept building on that. Jorja Miller and Ayesha Leti-I’iga both scored twice, and a handful of others got in on the action too. Spain managed a late try from Inés Antolinez Fernández, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
It wasn’t all good news for New Zealand though—Kaipo Olsen-Baker had to be stretchered off with a leg injury in the first half, which was tough to see.
Ireland had a solid win over Japan, finishing 42–14. They managed to score six tries, with four of those coming in a really strong first half. Two of those tries were in the first ten minutes, which gave them a nice early lead and that valuable bonus point.
Beibhinn Parsons, Fiona Tuite, Eve Higgins, and Enya Breen all crossed the line, while Danny Kenny handled the conversions. Japan did get two tries of their own through Haruka Hirotsu and Masami Kawamura, but they just couldn’t keep up with Ireland’s speed.
After the match, Ireland’s coach Scott Bemand mentioned how important it was to get that bonus point early on, saying it really set the tone for the rest of the game.
South Africa had a strong start to their Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign, beating Brazil 66–6 in Northampton. It was their first tournament win since 2010, and they looked sharp from the beginning. Aseza Hele stood out with three tries, while Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Ayanda Malinga each scored twice. Nadine Roos, Aphiwe Ngwevu, and Lerato Makua also got on the scoresheet.
Brazil, playing in their first World Cup, managed just two penalties from Raquel Kochhann. South Africa’s coach, Swys de Bruin, was especially pleased with how well the forwards performed in set pieces, saying their lineouts and scrums set the tone for the whole game.
Elsewhere in the opening round, other favorites like New Zealand and Ireland also picked up convincing wins. New Zealand’s Portia Woodman-Wickliffe even broke the try-scoring record, which says a lot about how that match went. All three teams look well placed to make it through to the quarter-finals.
Southern Hemisphere – Rugby Championship (Men’s Test)
It was a huge day for Argentina’s rugby team. They finally managed to beat New Zealand on their home turf—something they had never done before. The final score was 29–23, thanks largely to some clutch kicking from Santiago Carreras in the second half. He nailed four penalties that sealed the deal.
New Zealand had won every single home game against Argentina for over 40 years, so this was a big moment. Argentina’s coach Felipe Contepomi called it a “monumental win” for the team’s history. He also noted that New Zealand’s discipline issues, including two yellow cards, probably helped swing the momentum.
Now all four teams in the Rugby Championship have one win each after two rounds. It’s still anyone’s game.
The Springboks took the first Test against Australia, 30–22, in Cape Town. It was a tough day for the Wallabies, especially after Tom Wright went down with a knee injury early on. That’s a season-ending blow for him. Coach Joe Schmidt gave him credit though, saying he gave everything he had. Elton Jantjies kept the scoreboard ticking for South Africa with steady kicking. Schmidt admitted afterward that they were simply outplayed.
Argentina’s tour of Australia just got tougher, with starting fly-half Tomás Albornoz ruled out for the rest of the trip after dislocating a finger in that big win over New Zealand. That’s a real blow.
Things aren’t looking great for Australia either. Wright’s ACL tear has been confirmed, ending his season, and Wallabies hooker David Porecki has unexpectedly retired. He’d been struggling with a bruised heel and felt it was the right time to step away.
With the Rugby Championship heading into its final week, it’s all up in the air. Argentina’s huge win really shook things up, while South Africa’s win over Australia tightened the standings even further.
Pacific Nations Cup 2025 (Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualifiers)
Canada beat the USA 34–20 in Calgary to kick off their Pacific Nations Cup campaign. It was a big win for them, especially since they hadn’t beaten the Americans since 2021. Tyler Ardron was everywhere on the field, scoring four tries—three of them before halftime. The game was tight for a while, tied at 20–20, but Ardron took over late. Coach Kingsley Jones (Meehan?) praised the forwards and the team’s overall effort, saying this kind of start could really boost Canada’s World Cup qualification chances.
Tonga got off to a strong start in Pool A with a 30–16 win over Samoa in Nuku’alofa. They built a 17–0 lead early on with tries from Siosiua Moala and Sonatane Takulua, and never let Samoa back into the game.
Captain Ben Tameifuna praised the home crowd, saying it helped set the tone. Samoa managed a couple of late tries through Tuna Tuitama and Melani Nanai, but Tonga’s maul was too strong—Sam Moli scored from one—and their kicking kept them safely ahead.
This win puts Tonga in a good position to defend their Pacific Nations Cup title, while Samoa will need to bounce back quickly.
Defending champions Fiji are up next—they play Japan on August 25.
Rugby League – Australia (NRL, Round 25 Results)
The Broncos had a big win over Newcastle, finishing 46–12. That moves them into fifth place and locks in their finals spot. It was one-sided from the start—they led 22–6 at halftime and just kept going.
Ben Hunt marked his 350th game with a try, calling it “a dream come true.” Reece Walsh also had a standout performance with a long solo try and sharp playmaking.
The Cowboys pulled off a dramatic comeback against the Wests Tigers, winning 34–28 after trailing by 12 points late in the game. The Tigers looked to have it wrapped up, with Jarome Luai marking his 150th NRL match with a try, but the Cowboys fought back in the final minutes.
The loss stings for the Tigers, officially ending their finals hopes—making it 13 straight years without a playoff appearance. Coach Benji Marshall admitted it was tough to watch the game slip away with 15 minutes left.
The Tigers also had injury woes: Adam Doueihi went off with a suspected facial fracture, likely ending his season, while Latu Fainu suffered a concussion. With both halfbacks gone, the Cowboys took advantage.
Rugby League – UK (Super League)
Wigan dominated Wakefield 44–2, moving back into second place. Bevan French made a strong return from injury, scoring his 100th try for the club and setting up a couple more. They led 16–0 at halftime and controlled the game throughout.
In another match, Huddersfield pulled off an upset, beating Warrington 23–10. George Flanagan scored two late tries to seal the win. Warrington had led early, but fell apart in the second half, denting their playoff chances. Now they’ll need help from other results to sneak into the top six.
Other News – Disciplinary, Doping, and Injury Updates
In women’s rugby, two players are facing disciplinary action from recent World Cup matches. Samoa’s Melina Salale and Fiji’s Bulou Vasuturaga both received red cards and will have separate hearings. Vasuturaga accepted a three-game ban, later reduced to two on the condition that she completes a coaching course. Salale, however, rejected her proposed suspension and will face a committee on August 25. World Rugby shared these updates on August 24.
Elsewhere, South African hooker Asenathi Ntlabakanye tested positive for a banned substance. Reports say it was a prescribed medication not intended to enhance performance. He denies wrongdoing but will miss the upcoming tour in New Zealand. South African Rugby confirmed his absence, while World Rugby declined further comment.
Injuries (Union & League):
-
In union: Tom Wright (Australia) is out with an ACL injury, and Tomás Albornoz (Argentina) is sidelined with a dislocated finger.
-
In league: The Wests Tigers confirmed injuries to Adam Doueihi (suspected broken facial bones) and Latu Fainu (concussion).