Episode 3333: Rugby World Cup 2025 Hits Different, Ireland Win In Style, Red Roses Bloom, Becky Lynch In Dublin

The women’s Rugby World Cup has come a long way in a short space of time. The opening game of the 2025 World Cup between England and USA had a higher attendance than the whole of the 2010 World Cup put together.

At the 2017 event in Ireland the pool games were played in the UCD Bowl. This year there will be 82,000 at the final in Twickenham, and the Ireland V NZ game in Brighton is expected to be a near 30,000 sell out. With the big crowds, the great stadiums, the sunshine, and the home team being hot favourites, there’s a sense that this year’s tournament is going to be huge.

©INPHO/Ben Brady

We chat to Sara Orchard of the BBC and Tania Rosser, star of three World Cups for Ireland, including 2014 when Ireland made the semi finals, about where the growth has come from, the opening weekend of pool matches, Ireland’s win over Japan and if the Red Roses will take the baton from two time Euros winners, the Lionesses.

©INPHO/Ben Brady

Plus there’s Felipe Contepomi guiding Argentina to another win over NZ and Becky Lynch having a pop at Bono.

Click the player at the top of the page to play the show. Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series’  ‘Where Is George Gibney?’ and Stakeknife.

How has Thomas Frank whipped Spurs into shape so quickly? And which current Spurs player is starting to remind some of their fans of Kylian Mbappe? pic.twitter.com/RU2lOLD87L

— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) August 25, 2025