England opened the Women’s Rugby World Cup against the United States of America in style as they ran riot at the Stadium of Light. The Red Roses, the hot favourites to lift the title this time around, racked up 11 tries on Wearside in a 69-7 thrashing to set a real statement in Group A. Ellie Kildunne put in a star showing as she scored twice and set up two more, as John Mitchell’s side emphatically got off to a winning start.
The match broke a record for a Women’s Rugby World Cup attendance, and spectators in Sunderland were treated to some liquid rugby. Sadie Kabeya opened the scoring on nine minutes, before Hannah Botterman got in on the act 10 minutes later. Erica Jarrell put a spanner in the works not long after for the US, but that was their only real moment to savour as the Red Roses roared back.
Beaten finalists last time out, the hosts then restored their two-try advantage as Maud Muir powered over, and Kildunne notched her first of the evening just a minute later. She set up Abby Dow with the second half just three minutes old, and then she doubled her tally on 48 minutes. Amy Cockayne dotted down before a moment of Kildunne brilliance teed up Jess Breach to open her account, and she would add her second between Lark Atkin-Davies’ brace. A perfect start for England, who face Samoa next weekend.
England vs USA latest news
- Davies scores another
- Kildunne brilliance feeds Breach
- Davies scores Red Roses' ninth
- Breach opens her account
- Cockayne touches down
- Kildunne doubles her tally
- Dow scores England's fifth
FT: England 69-7 USA
21:17 , Oli GentThere it is. What a performance from the Red Roses. 11 tries. Not bad going. Onto Samoa next.
Thanks very much for joining us on Standard Sport, be sure to come back very soon for even more LIVE Women’s Rugby World Cup action!
England 69-7 USA
21:14 , Oli Gent79 mins: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot breaks out around the ground. The Red Roses deserve to be carried home after this performance.
England 69-7 USA
21:11 , Oli GentTry! 76 mins: An 11th try in this opener as the maul collapses over, and it’s Davies once more! Sing over the conversion, and it’s in!
England 62-7 USA
21:08 , Oli Gent73 mins: Such fast movement from England in attack as they build through the phases, but the final pass doesn’t connect with Dow, who knocks it on.
England 62-7 USA
21:04 , Oli Gent70 mins: A new record attendance for a Women’s Rugby World Cup match, the Stadium of Light announcer booms from the tannoy. We’ll get the number to you when we get it.
England 62-7 USA
21:03 , Oli Gent69 mins: Penalty, USA. Stathopoulous wins the penalty going over the top at the breakdown.
England 62-7 USA
21:01 , Oli Gent68 mins: Another change for the Red Roses as Breach is taken off as Sing comes on in her place. Kildunne is now on the wing, with Sing at 15.
England 62-7 USA
20:58 , Oli GentTry! 66 mins: That is absolutely sensational from Kildunne! All her own work, all from turnover ball. She shows superb pace as the grubber lands perfectly for her, and she feeds Breach to touch down! Scarratt misses the kick.
England 57-7 USA
20:55 , Oli Gent63 mins: Three changes for England.
Scarratt, Packer, Feaunati are all on.
England 57-7 USA
20:52 , Oli GentTry! 60 mins: Clifford is right into the thick of it, supported by Bern in the crash.
Round the corner they go again as they camp on the US line, and that’s over, from Davies!
England 50-7 USA
20:49 , Oli GentTry! 57 mins: Kildunne turns provider, as Breach opens her account for the tournament. It’s a nice line-out move as Heard spins out wide for Kildunne, and she feeds the winger to dot down. Harrison from the touchline with the conversion, but it’s off target.
England 45-7 USA
20:46 , Oli Gent55 mins: The US have brought on Bargell and Ehrecke at nine and in the second row respectively. Ortiz and Brody make way.
England 45-7 USA
20:45 , Oli Gent54 mins: All change in the England front row. Davies, Clifford, and Bern are all on for Muir, Botterman, and Cockayne.
England 45-7 USA
20:44 , Oli GentTry! 52 mins: Another penalty won by Botterman in the breakdown. England have a line-out on the five-metre... Kabeya comes down the side and Cockayne takes over! Another!
England 40-7 USA
20:42 , Oli Gent51 mins: This is liquid rugby from England, and Kildunne is overlapping down the right! She’s tap-tackled - just about - by Sharp into touch!
England 40-7 USA
20:40 , Oli GentTry! 49 mins: Meg Jones with a great charge-down, and Kildunne seizes on the loose ball out of nowhere after Breach’s kick, and doubles her tally! Harrison knocks over the two extras off the post.
England 33-7 USA
20:37 , Oli Gent48 mins: Penalty, England. The Red Roses force the US to keep hold of the ball in the ruck, and it’s Botterman who is the one to win it. A big pressure release for the hosts.
England 33-7 USA
20:36 , Oli Gent46 mins: England are making their presence known here in every ruck. The US are trying to come back at them with Kelter in the first-receiver position quite frequently at the moment.
England 33-7 USA
20:33 , Oli GentTry! 43 mins: Instant England pressure as Botterman, Ward, and Talling all crowd the US line. How many phases! They’re still short, here, and the patience is impressive. They’re held up again, and finally Dow goes over!
Kick off!
20:31 , Oli Gent41 mins: We’re back underway.
HT: England 28-7 USA
20:15 , Oli GentThere’s the interval. Decent stuff so far from the Red Roses. What will the second half have in store?
England 28-7 USA
20:13 , Oli Gent40 mins: Held up! The US think they’ve scored as the maul collapses over the line, but is it down? No, and the Red Roses can kick it clear!
England 28-7 USA
20:12 , Oli Gent39 mins: Maher puts the burners on but is brilliantly held up by Kildunne. Sharp looks to get in on the act. Cockayne steals it, but it’s a penalty advantage for the US, so she can’t continue! Kelter is also back on, but has the damage been done?
England 28-7 USA
20:09 , Oli GentTry! 35 mins: What a try! Ellie Kildunne gets in on the act as England time the break so well. Kildunne is on the support line inside Dow, and she speeds over! Harrison knocks two more over!
England 21-7 USA
20:07 , Oli GentTry! 33 mins: Talling can’t ground as England edge closer to the line, and Kabeya goes for it! Held up once more... but Muir gets it over! Harrison adds two more.
England 14-7 USA
20:05 , Oli Gent33 mins: England keep working it wider, but that is superb defending from Maher, as she converges upon Heard quickly!
England 14-7 USA
20:05 , Oli Gent32 mins: The crowd are roaring the Red Roses on for a third try. The maul is moving slowly, and Sagapolu is penalised for coming in at the side in the maul.
Another England line-out.
England 14-7 USA
20:00 , Oli Gent29 mins: Harrison also makes a mess of the penalty, kicking too far for touch as it lands inside the try area, and it’s brought back for a US scrum!
England 14-7 USA
20:00 , Oli Gent28 mins: Yellow card! There’s a TMO check on a deliberate knock-on from Kelter at the breakdown, and she’s ruled to be off her feet! She’s sent to the bin!
England 14-7 USA
19:57 , Oli GentTry! 26 mins: The US are back in it! Look at the celebrations! Poor defending from the Red Roses as Mataitoga keeps it moving and Jarrell wrestles herself clear to streak away and score! Hawkins is over the conversion, and she knocks it over!
England 14-0 USA
19:54 , Oli Gent24 mins: What a chance! The US come so close as it’s a lovely clip over Abby Dow as Mataitoga goes haring after it. They had a two v one down that left side, but they’ve knocked it on!
England 14-0 USA
19:52 , Oli Gent22 mins: Kabeya and Heard are both in their rhythm, but they get a bit overexcited down the left. They knock it on, and we’ll have a scrum down, US ball.
England 14-0 USA
19:50 , Oli GentTry! 19 mins: England have another, and it’s Botterman who’s got it! What a moment, as she follows in her aunt’s footsteps. It’s a great kick from Jones, perfectly weighted, and Botterman comes from the outside shoulder to break away and dot down! Harrison adds the extras.
England 7-0 USA
19:47 , Oli Gent17 mins: A huge pass from Kelter as Maher gets on the ball at last. She battles with Meg Jones, and Johnson is in support, but it’s loose, and they’ve lost it.
England 7-0 USA
19:46 , Oli Gent16 mins: Not much from Ilona Maher so far. She’s had the ball in hand, but not been able to really stretch her legs as of yet. She’s playing at outside centre, but the US have just not had enough possession to be able to work it down the line.
England 7-0 USA
19:45 , Oli Gent14 mins: The US get a penalty as Rachel Johnson does really well at the breakdown, and Alex Matthews doesn’t release. Again, the visitors celebrate like crazy!
England 7-0 USA
19:43 , Oli Gent12 mins: Kildunne is onto the loose ball quickly and races down the right. She looks to check inside, but she’s caught and the momentum goes awry.
England 7-0 USA
19:40 , Oli GentTry! 9 mins: This time! England are ahead as Sadia Kabeya is the one who crashes over! It’s taken well from the line-out, and the maul sees Kabeya cross. Harrison adds the extras.
England 0-0 USA
19:38 , Oli Gent8 mins: The US scrum collapses and England get the penalty. Harrison kicks for touch, and Cockayne delivers. It’s long at the back, and the Red Roses lose it! The US are celebrating that like a try!
England 0-0 USA
19:36 , Oli Gent6 mins: Kildunne gets involved down the right for the first time and the Red Roses have it just inside the opposition 22. Botterman drives with it and Harrison looks for a quick offload, but the communication breaks down and the US defence holds out.
England 0-0 USA
19:35 , Oli Gent5 mins: A strong push as the Red Roses work it down the line nicely. Harrison goes for the grubber as Matthews goes chasing down the left, but it’s turned over inside the US 22. Hawkins does well to clear with a kick, but the ball stays in play and is given straight to Maud Muir who goes into the challenge like a battering ram.
England 0-0 USA
19:33 , Oli Gent3 mins: Scrum down, England. The US are being pushed back in possession, with the Red Roses not really contesting the breakdowns so far. It’s knocked on in the 10th phase, and we’ll have a first set piece.
England 0-0 USA
19:32 , Oli Gent2 mins: A nervy start from the Red Roses as they don’t catch the initial kick-off. Some pick-and-go possession for the US in the early stages.
Kick off!
19:30 , Oli Gent1 min: We are underway.
Pre-game show!
19:26 , Oli GentAnne-Marie performs at the Stadium of Light ahead of kick-off... and now here come the players! National anthems incoming.
Ellie Kildunne exclusive interview!
19:20 , Oli GentArthur Ferridge sat down with Ellie Kildunne to discuss the Red Roses’ chances of ripping back the crown from the Black Ferns.
It’s safe to say that the full-back is confident in her side’s chances...
Can all-conquering England handle the pressure?
19:10 , Oli GentHas there ever been more expectation on a side heading into a Rugby World Cup than England Women on home soil this summer?
Ben Coles has the answers here.
England inspired by Lionesses as they target World Cup glory
19:00 , Oli GentThis Red Roses side are looking to take inspiration from the Lionesses’ successful Euro 2025 triumph in Switzerland.
England have home advantage here. How will they fare?
Simon Collings takes a look here!
England vs USA head-to-head
18:45 , Oli GentThese sides’ most recent meeting came in Vancouver last year, England coming away with a 61-21 win. The US’ only win over the Red Rose came in their first meeting back in 1991.
England wins: 20
United States wins: 1
Draws: 0
England team news
18:30 , Oli GentEngland boss John Mitchell has made no changes from the XV which beat France 40-6 in a pre-tournament friendly.
He has been boosted ahead of the tournament by the return of Harlequins full-back Kildunne, who missed the final game of the Six Nations with a hamstring injury. She lines up alongside Dow and Jess Breach.
Packer is available after serving a one-match ban for a red card awarded in the Spain friendly.
Three potential World Cup debutants are named on the bench in Kelsey Clifford, Maddie Feaunati and Emma Sing, while fellow replacement Emily Scarratt is set to play at her fifth World Cup.
“We have been building nicely into the tournament and now we’re excited to get our campaign underway,” Mitchell said.
“We want to embrace the occasion whilst understanding we have to remain where our feet are and earn the right to progress through the pool stage.”
Lionesses send messages to Red Roses
18:15 , Oli GentThe European Championship-winning Lionesses had messages to send for the Red Roses ahead of their World Cup campaign.
Here’s what they said...
🏉 "You have the chance to change rugby in our country forever" 🏴
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) August 22, 2025
🦁 Lionesses 🤝 Red Roses 🌹
Build-up to England's opener against the USA from 6:30pm on @BBCSounds 📲#BBCRugby #ENGvUSA #RWC2025 pic.twitter.com/gkPouwDpz3
Standard Sport prediction
18:00 , Oli GentWhile American rugby is in a rather good spot at the moment, following the founding of a domestic semi-professional league earlier this year, they face a mighty task to turn England over.
All the cards have fallen in the Red Roses’ favour to launch their World Cup with a statement win. They are the tournament hosts, the odds-on favourites to win, and facing a relative minnow.
Not to mention, their squad - at full strength for this match - boasts several world leaders in their positions, including the likes of Ellie Kildunne, Marlie Packer, and Abby Dow.
Looking at the vicious beatings England have handed out in their pre-tournament friendlies, this has the makings of a long eighty minutes for the US.
England to win by eighty points.
USA team news
17:45 , Oli GentConfirmed USA XV: Lotte Sharp, Emily Henrich, Ilona Maher, Olivia Ortiz, McKenzie Hawkins, Bulou Mataitoga; Hope Rogers, Kathryn Treder, Keia Mae Sagapolu, Tahlia Brody, Erica Jarrell-Searcy, Georgie Perris-Redding, Rachel Johnson.
Replacements: Paige Stathopoulos, Alivia Leatherman, Charli Jacoby, Rachel Ehrecke, Freda Tafuna, Cassidy Bargell, Kristin Bitter, Sariah Ibarra.
England team news
17:30 , Oli GentConfirmed England XV: Ellie Kildunne, Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach, Zoe Harrison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne, Maud Muir, Morwenna Talling, Abbie Ward, Zoe Aldcroft (capt), Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews.
Replacements: Lark Atkin-Davies, Kelsey Clifford, Sarah Bern, Rosie Galligan, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Emily Scarratt, Emma Sing.
How to watch
17:15 , Oli GentTV channel: The entire Women’s Rugby World Cup will be broadcast free-to-air by the BBC.
Select matches - like this one - will be broadcast on terrestrial TV.
Live stream: Fans with a valid TV license can stream every match of the tournament online via BBC iPlayer.
Hello and welcome!
16:53 , Oli Gent... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
England take on the United States at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light this evening, with the Red Roses looking to go one better than their final defeat by the Black Ferns three years ago.
Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 7.30pm.
