The 2025 international rugby union calendar is set to be one of the most exciting in recent memory, headlined by the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England and the now concluded British and Irish Lions tour of Australia. Taking place in August and September, the Women’s World Cup will showcase the very best of the women’s game, with record crowds and global audiences expected as teams battle for the ultimate prize. With women’s rugby growing at unprecedented pace, the World Cup will not only crown champions but also mark a defining moment in the sport’s expansion.
Earlier in the year, the traditional Six Nations Championship kicks off in February and March, bringing fierce rivalries and European bragging rights to the fore. Mid-year, attention shifts south as northern hemisphere sides embark on challenging summer tours to New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina. At the same time, the Rugby Championship delivers its annual showcase of southern hemisphere brilliance, featuring some of the fiercest contests in the game.
The year concludes with the Quilter Nations Series, rugby union’s autumn internationals, where Europe welcomes the world’s best for high-intensity clashes under the floodlights.
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 will take place in eight cities across England from 22 August to 27 September. The tournaments kicks off with hosts England facing USA in the opening match at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on 22 August, 2025. The final will be held at Twickenham on 27 September.
Friday 22 August 2025
- England vs USA, Sunderland
Saturday 23 August 2025
- Australia vs Samoa, Salford
- Scotland vs Wales, Salford
- Canada vs Fiji, York
- France vs Italy, Exeter
Sunday 24 August 2025
- Ireland vs Japan, Northampton
- South Africa vs Brazil, Northampton
- New Zealand vs Spain, York
Saturday 30 August 2025
- Canada vs Wales, Salford
- Scotland vs Fiji, Salford
- England vs Samoa, Northampton
- USA vs Australia, York
Sunday 31 August 2025
- Ireland vs Spain, Northampton
- New Zealand vs Japan, Exeter
- Italy vs South Africa, York
- France vs Brazil, Exeter
Saturday 6 September 2025
- Canada vs Scotland, Exeter
- USA vs Samoa, York
- Wales vs Fiji, Exeter
- England vs Australia, Brighton
Sunday 7 September 2025
- Japan vs Spain, York
- Italy vs Brazil, Northampton
- New Zealand vs Ireland, Brighton
- France vs South Africa, Northampton
Saturday 13 September 2025
- Quarter-final 1: Winner Pool C vs Runner-up Pool D, Exeter
- Quarter-final 2: Winner Pool B vs Runner-up Pool A, Bristol
Sunday 14 September 2025
- Quarter-final 3: Winner Pool D vs Runner-up Pool C, Exeter
- Quarter-final 4: Winner Pool A vs Runner-up Pool B, Bristol
Friday 19 September 2025
- Semi-final 1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF2, Bristol, 7pm
Saturday 20 September 2025
- Semi-final 2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF4, Bristol
Saturday 27 September 2025
- Bronze final: Loser SF1 vs Loser SF2, London
- Final: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2, London
Rugby Championship 2025
16 August 2025
- South Africa vs. Australia – Johannesburg
- Argentina vs. New Zealand – Córdoba
23 August 2025
- South Africa vs. Australia – Cape Town
- Argentina vs. New Zealand – Buenos Aires
6 September 2025
- Australia vs. Argentina – Townsville
- New Zealand vs. South Africa – Auckland
13 September 2025
- Australia vs. Argentina – Sydney
- New Zealand vs. South Africa – Wellington
27 September 2025
- New Zealand vs. Australia – Auckland
- South Africa vs. Argentina – Durban
4 October 2025
- Australia vs. New Zealand – Perth
- Argentina vs South Africa – Twickenham
Autumn internationals: Quilter Nations Series
Week 1
Saturday 1 November 2025
- England vs. Australia (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)
- Scotland vs. USA (Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh)
- Ireland vs. New Zealand (Soldier Field, Chicago)
Week 2
Saturday 8 November 2025
- Ireland vs. Japan (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
- Scotland vs. New Zealand (Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh)
- England vs. Fiji (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)
- Italy vs. Australia (Bluenergy Stadium, Udine)
- France vs. South Africa (Stade de France, Paris)
Sunday 9 November 2025
- Wales vs. Argentina (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Week 3
Saturday 15 November 2025
- Italy vs. South Africa (Allianz Stadium, Turin)
- England vs. New Zealand (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)
- Wales vs. Japan (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
- France vs. Fiji (Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Metropole, Bordeaux)
- Ireland vs. Australia (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Sunday 16 November 2025
- Scotland vs. Argentina (Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh)
Week 4
Saturday 22 November 2025
- Wales vs. New Zealand (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
- Ireland vs. South Africa (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
- France vs. Australia (Stade de France, Paris)
- Italy vs. Samoa (Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa)
Sunday 23 November 2025
- Scotland vs. Tonga (Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh)
- England vs. Argentina (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)
Week 5
Saturday 29 November 2025
- Wales vs. South Africa (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Guinness Men’s Six Nations 2026
The 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations championship will see England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales battle it over five action-packed weekends of international rugby union. France go into the 2026 Six Nations as defending champions.
Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2025
The 2026 Women’s Six Nations Rugby Championship, taking place from late March to late April, features England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales in a round-robin format.
2026 European club rugby finals
EPCR Challenge Cup final
When: May 2026
Where: TBC
Investec Champions Cup final
When: May 2026
Where: TBC
English rugby union: Gallagher Premiership Final
When: June 2026
Where: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, England
Website: premiershiprugby.com
Image: Twickenham rugby stadium in London (Credit: by David Iliff/WikiCommons. License: CC BY-SA 3.0)