Carrying the Momentum: World Cup Legacy and the WXV Global Series

The record-breaking 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup enters its final week with hosts England set to face world number two Canada in the final on Saturday 27 September. This tournament has smashed attendance records, drawn in new fans, and lifted women’s rugby to unprecedented heights. The final promises to be the biggest game in women’s rugby history, with a sold-out Twickenham crowd of 82,000. That figure eclipses the previous record of 58,498, set when England faced France in the 2023 Six Nations at the same venue. From viral TikTok clips to standout performances by superstars like Ilona Maher and Ellie Kildunne, and from rugby podcasts to mainstream media, the women’s game has never had more eyes on it. The challenge now is to turn that buzz into lasting change. For World Rugby and the home nations, the priority will be ensuring the tournament leaves a legacy — one that keeps fans engaged, inspires new players, and helps the game continue to grow. To carry this momentum forward, World Rugby has launched the WXV Global Series — a new, aligned international calendar designed to strengthen competition between now and the 2029 World Cup in Australia. The top 12 ranked nations — England, Canada, New Zealand, France, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, USA, Italy, South Africa, Japan and Wales — will play in a home-and-away touring model beginning in 2026. This gives unions the chance to host regular home fixtures, engage their own supporters, and build commercial strength. Teams ranked 13 to 18 — Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong China, Netherlands, Samoa and Spain — will compete in a centrally hosted tournament in both 2026 and 2028, with World Rugby covering the costs. Rankings were determined at the close of WXV 2024 and will remain fixed until 2028, providing stability across the cycle. Importantly, the series will also form part of the qualification pathway for the 2029 World Cup, ensuring every fixture has meaning as well as profile. In Scotland, the World Cup has brought renewed optimism. This has been the team’s best tournament since 2002, reaching the quarter-finals before bowing out to the hosts. There are stars to celebrate: Francesca McGhie, who scored six tries this World Cup, and Evie Gallagher, who made 72 tackles and currently sits fourth in the entire competition, have sparked real excitement about the talent Scotland can produce. The wider picture is not without challenges. Reports of players missing out on contract renewals in their prime years and a decline in junior female teams underline the work still to be done. Yet with coaching changes on the horizon and the structure of the WXV Global Series now in place, Scotland has a clean slate and a real chance to plan for the future. If the energy of this World Cup can be harnessed, the game at home could take a major step forward — from grassroots participation through to international competition The 2025 World Cup has set the stage. With the WXV Global Series, the Six Nations, and even a historic British & Irish Lions women’s tour to New Zealand in the pipeline, the profile of the women’s game has never been higher. If unions seize this moment and invest wisely, the future looks bright: more packed stadiums, more young players inspired, more world-class contests, and a 2029 World Cup in Australia that reflects the growth ignited here in 2025.