Woodward lays out six rugby storylines for 2025-26 season

Sir Clive Woodward has laid out six major talking points he believes will define the 2025-26 rugby season, arguing England are primed to take the next step toward a World Cup title. The former England coach identifies themes that could shape the year from the domestic game to global competition, including the progression of England under Steve Borthwick, the fate of the Red Roses at home, the competitiveness of the Premiership, and the sport-wide challenges around player safety and governance. The season promises to be one of the most consequential in decades as rugby seeks to navigate change and uncertainty while chasing tangible on-field success.

England’s men have turned a corner under Steve Borthwick, Woodward argues, pointing to a durable improvement that has persisted even when many top players were on Lions duty. England completed a 2-0 series win in Argentina after a difficult autumn and finished second in last season’s Six Nations, riding a seven-game winning streak. The emphasis, Woodward says, is on the quality of play as much as the results: England have developed a fast, attacking style and depth across the squad, with fringe players like Harlequins winger Cadan Murley seizing opportunities in South America. With a strong group of backline and forward options, England are positioned to lift their performance again this autumn, including fixtures against the Wallabies, Fiji, the All Blacks and Argentina. The challenge, he notes, is to translate progress into a step up against the world’s best teams, with autumn tests seen as a proving ground for a true World Cup campaign.

2. Red Roses on verge of World Cup glory England open the Women’s World Cup final against Canada at a sold-out Twickenham, in a match that has already captured a country’s imagination. The path to Wembley was forged through a hard-fought semi-final against France, where England showed resilience even when not at their best in the first half. In knockout rugby, the result is what matters, and Woodward says a victory would carry more than a trophy; it could catalyze a fundamental shift in participation and perception of the sport. A home World Cup win would be a watershed moment for both the men’s and women’s game, potentially driving increased grassroots participation, greater recruitment of young players, and broader interest across communities that may have previously perceived rugby as inaccessible or risky. The potential impact extends beyond sport, contributing to a broader cultural moment in English rugby.

3. The most competitive Premiership in years Woodward argues that English rugby’s top division is finally a robust, highly competitive product. The season opener pits Sale against Gloucester, symbolizing a league that now features real parity and star power. Newcastle’s Red Bull takeover has injected momentum, with incoming players including Wales’ Louis Rees-Zammit, Bristol-bound Tom Jordan, Exeter and Leicester additions Len Ikitau and James O’Connor, and other international names crossing club lines. The league has seen six different champions in the last six seasons, underscoring the volatility and competitiveness that can drive higher-quality rugby. Bath, reinforced by players such as Henry Arundell, Santi Carreras and Chris Harris, are viewed as title contenders, though the debate over promotion and relegation remains a live issue, especially with Worcester’s rebirth and the prospect of Welsh teams joining the mix in the future. The Prem, Woodward notes, is a rising product that can bolster England’s supply line for the national team and improve the broader professional ecosystem.

4. Sort the head injury crisis Rugby’s head injury crisis remains the sport’s most pressing reputational challenge. Woodward highlights the ongoing legal battles between former players and the game’s authorities over alleged negligence and neurodegenerative diseases. The public tense climate, he says, has created concern about participation at the grassroots level and the safety of current players. He calls for a united approach among World Rugby, the RFU and the WRU, urging constructive dialogue with former players to reach settlements that serve both parties. Investment in technology, better concussion protocols, and transparent research are essential to restore trust and protect players long term. The aim, he stresses, is to resolve the dispute in a way that prioritizes player safety and public confidence in the sport while acknowledging the complexity of the legal landscape and the many stakeholders involved.

5. R360… friend or foe The would-be breakaway competition known as R360 looms over the season, with uncertainty about whether it will launch and how it would affect the sport’s established order. Woodward notes the potential for disruption and the risk that top English players could defect if the rebel league takes shape. The issue, he says, demands clarity for fans and players alike as clubs weigh competing pressures from sponsorship, media rights, and the traditional calendar. The presence of rebels or even the threat of one could alter negotiations around player contracts and national-team commitments, and he acknowledges the tension within England’s setup, where a number of stars might be tempted to explore opportunities outside the current structure. The debate reflects a sport trying to balance innovation with tradition as it seeks sustainable pathways for growth.

6. A new world order In the Rugby Championship, Australia currently sits atop with one round to go, while South Africa and New Zealand remain formidable contenders. The landscape looks different from a few years ago, with vulnerabilities among the southern hemisphere powers and with England watching closely ahead of autumn internationals and a looming global calendar. The immediate takeaway for England is to leverage what Woodward calls a shifting order by making decisive statements at home against Australia and New Zealand and by seeking World Cup markers that signal real progression. The season, he suggests, could redefine the global pecking order and reveal which teams are ready to win on rugby’s biggest stage.

Woodward stresses that the next 12 months will test not just squads and coaching but the governance, security, and commercial models that underpin the sport. The period ahead will be defined by how England translates a growing depth and a dynamic attacking style into enduring success, how the Red Roses and the wider rugby community respond to the sport’s most serious safety concerns, and how the sport navigates new business models and potential realignments of the calendar. As the season kicks off with a high-stakes slate of autumn internationals and a Premiership highlighted by marquee signings, the rugby world will be watching closely to see which of these six themes crystallize into results on the field and decisions off it. Woodward’s six points underscore a season that could be remembered as a turning point for English rugby and the global game alike.