France Starts Women's Rugby World Cup With 24-0 Win Over Italy

France began their 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup campaign with a 24-0 victory over Italy in Exeter, overcoming a challenging first half to assert control after the break. Wing Joanna Grisez scored the opening try, followed by tries from forwards Assia Khalfaoui and Charlotte Escudero, with Morgane Bourgeois converting all three tries and adding a penalty. Despite Italy's resilient defense, France dominated the scrum and maintained pressure, although handling errors persisted. The win positions France strongly within Pool D, with upcoming matches against Brazil and South Africa expected to help them secure first place in the group and avoid facing New Zealand early in the knockout stages. Historically, France has reached the semifinals in eight of nine World Cups but has yet to advance beyond that stage; this year, they are determined to break that pattern and contend for the title. Co-head coach David Ortiz and former captain Gaëlle Mignot emphasize the team's commitment to improvement and winning the competition, reflecting their status as a top-ranked rugby nation.