Global XV to watch out for at 2025 World Cup

England’s star-studded squad are favourites to lift the Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy in September.

Ireland, Wales and Scotland also have top talent looking to shine at the tournament which will see games played at eight venues across England.

But outside the home nations, who should you watch out for?

The United States front-row forward has been a standout performer for Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR), winning a place in the league’s team of the year for the past two seasons.

The 23-year-old only made her Test debut in May against Fiji but has gone on to start four of Australia’s past five Tests, bagging a try in a defeat by Wales.

Two of those starts came against World Cup contenders New Zealand and Canada to mark an incredible rise for the dynamic Amosa, who only made her debut in Super Rugby – featuring four teams from Australia and one from Fiji – last year.

The 30-year-old is another one of Exeter’s destructive props, having joined the side in 2021.

Menin is a key player for World Cup-chasing Canada and was the player of the match in a victory over world champions New Zealand last year.

The all-action lock made four breakdown turnovers and stole two line-outs during this year’s Women’s Six Nations.

The 25-year-old, who is the France co-captain, also made the second-most offloads (eight).

The 30-year-old played at the last World Cup for Australia and has captained the side previously.

England face the Wallaroos on 6 September and Leonard will be aiming to disrupt the Red Roses’ formidable line-out.

The 26-year-old captained Canada to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2022 and is one of the stars of the PWR.

The Saracens back rower, known for her barnstorming carries, returned to action last month after recovering from the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury she suffered in June 2024.

Tukuafu co-captained New Zealand to World Cup glory over England in 2022 and will be aiming to again lift the trophy.

A typical open-side flanker who is sharp over the ball, the 28-year-old also enjoys carrying hard in the wider channels.

Hele has gone from strength-to-strength following her selection for the World Cup in 2022 after only five caps.

Despite her side losing all three games three years ago, the 30-year-old caught the eye of Harlequins, who signed the big ball carrier in 2023.

Arguably the best scrum-half in the world, Bourdon Sansus continues to produce magical moments.

A long-range drop-goal was part of an exceptional all-round player-of-the-match performance against Scotland in this year’s Six Nations.

The fly-half co-captained the Black Ferns to the World Cup title in 2022, before winning World Rugby women’s player of the year.

The 30-year-old has experience on the biggest stage and produced a player-of-the-match performance in that final win over England in 2022.

A wonderful individual score against England in this year’s Six Nations showed the 20-year-old can perform against the world’s best.

It is not just her rapid pace and finishing ability that is a threat, Arbey has a wonderful offloading game, with a speculator one-handed effort setting up a try for Seraphine Okemba against Scotland.

Another one of Exeter’s foreign imports, Tessier is comfortable at both fly-half and inside centre.

The 2024 World Rugby women’s player of the year nominee will captain Canada at the tournament, which shows her value in a squad that contains former skipper De Goede.

Ilona Maher has more than eight million followers on social media, the most of any rugby union player in the world.

The 29-year-old spent three months at Bristol Bears earlier this year, scoring four tries in a successful stint as attendances skyrocketed in the PWR.

A first USA XVs cap since 2021 followed against New Zealand in May, with Maher using her powerful frame from outside centre.

Considered the greatest in the history of women’s rugby, Woodman-Wickliffe has scored a record 20 World Cup tries and helped New Zealand become world champions in 2017 and 2022.

In April, the 34-year-old opted to come out of international retirement after stepping away following last summer’s Olympics.

The full-back scored Spain’s only try in a 97-7 World Cup warm-up hammering by England.

However, the 20-year-old was a bright spark in the game and scored eight tries in an impressive debut season for Harlequins.