"She was great when she came to Bristol,” England lock Abbie Ward recalls of her former teammate. “She brought loads of energy. She has a lot of experience in the sevens and she'll take that into the 15s.

Rugby authorities see America as a vital new market for the sport. The United States will stage the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the women’s tournament in 2033.

The stories of the first Women’s World Cup in 1991 have been passed down through the rugby generations, told and retold to each and every entrant into a sport that still carries the against-all-odds spirit that inspired that first tournament.

England have a replica kit shortage for their Women’s Rugby World Cup shirt after a supply chain error by manufacturer Castore.

An era-defining Women's Rugby World Cup has set records even before it kicks off on Friday when host England plays the United States in Sunderland.

The World Cup, held in England, kicks off Friday with a match between the host team and the United States. International rugby authorities hope the tournament will mark a turning point for the sport.

THE Women’s Rugby World Cup is set to take England by storm this summer! The tournament will see the Red Roses hosts look to finally end the dominance of New Zealand’s Black Ferns.

Prospects: A team that should stay poised under pressure. Eleven players have more than 50 caps, led by back Sofia Stefan’s 98. Ten players are going to their third RWC. Keep an eye on center-wing Alyssa D’Inca, a threat since last year who scored four tries across the Azzurre’s warmup wins over Scotland and Japan.

GAME 1 Alarm set: 4.30am, Monday August 25 Black Ferns vs Spain, York Community Stadium. Live on Sky Sport Spain might not be a country you associate with rugby but they have a proud history in the women’s game. Featuring in the women’s Six Nations until 2006 when they were replaced by Italy to mirror the men’s tournament.

Ilona Maher said she is contemplating an offer to participate in WWE wrestling as a stepping stone to Hollywood after the Women's Rugby World Cup

Six years ago, the possiblity of filling 82,000 seats for a Women's Rugby World Cup final seemed fanciful. But a booming game has confounded expectations.