BFBS to Broadcast 2025 Women’s International Defence Rugby Competition as Official Media Partner

 British Forces Broadcasting Service will broadcast the 2025 Women’s International Defence Rugby Competition as the Official Media Partner. See here for more details about the event, dates and locations of the matches and how to get tickets.

BFBS to Broadcast 2025 Women’s International Defence Rugby Competition as Official Media Partner

BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) will deliver exclusive livestream coverage of the 2025 Women’s International Defence Rugby Competition (IDRC), bringing forces audiences around the world closer to the action.

Now in its 21st year, the IDRC is the world’s premier military rugby tournament. In 2025 the second Women’s International Defence Rugby Competition will take place, running throughout August and September, featuring elite teams made up of soldiers, sailors and airwomen from armed forces around the world, plus a unique squad brought together by Vodafone and rugby mental health charity LooseHeadz. All teams will compete for the title of the greatest armed forces rugby team in the world.

Hosted in the UK by the British Army, the tournament will kick off with an Opening Ceremony at the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Berkshire on 15 August. Fixtures will then take place over three weeks at venues across the UK, culminating in the final at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester, on 3 September.

As the official media partner for the 2025 competition, BFBS will livestream selected fixtures via Forces News YouTube and Forces News Facebook ensuring service personnel, veterans, and rugby fans worldwide never miss a moment.

BFBS will be covering every twist and turn of the tournament across its radio, TV and digital platforms, on both BFBS and BFBS Forces News channels.

Lt Cdr Laura Blagden RN, Tournament Manager at IDRC said: "The IDRC is more than just a competition, it is a celebration of teamwork, resilience and international camaraderie among women in uniform. We’re proud to be hosting the tournament in the UK, and with BFBS as our media partner, we’re giving the athletes a platform to amplify the visibility and recognition their performances deserve on a global stage.”

Sara Burls, Senior Director, Livestreaming and Studio (News) at BFBS, added: "We are proud to be the official media partner for this year’s International Defence Rugby Competition, and we’re thrilled to bring global audiences closer to the energy and excellence of women’s military rugby. This tournament showcases the extraordinary skill and spirit of these athletes, and we’re proud to share their stories and achievements with the forces community and beyond.”

2025 Tickets Are Now On Sale For The Following Fixtures:
Round 1
17 August

• UK v Tonga - Esher RFC
• Ireland - Esher RFC

18 August

• France v Australia - Maidenhead RFC
• Fiji v Vodafone LooseHeadz Barbarians Invitational XV - Maidenhead RFC

Round 2
21 August

• Tonga - Basingstoke RFC
• UK v Ireland - Basingstoke RFC

22 August

• France v Fiji - Henley RFC
• Australia v Vodafone LooseHeadz Barbarians Invitational XV - Henley RFC

Round 3
25 August

• UK - Aldershot Garrison
• Tonga v Ireland - Aldershot Garrison

26 August

• Fiji v Australia - Aldershot Garrison
• Vodafone LooseHeadz Barbarians Invitational XV v France - Aldershot Garrison

Challenge Cup Semi
29 August

• 3rd Pool A v 4th Pool B - Guilford RFC
• 3rd Pool B v 4th Pool A - Guilford RFC

Cup Semi
30 August

• Winner Pool A v 2nd Pool B - Richmond RFC
• Winner Pool B v 2nd Pool A - Richmond RFC

Challenge Final
2 September

• 7th/8th Play Off - Newbury RFC
• Challenge Cup Final - Newbury RFC

Cup Final
3 September

• 3rd/4th Play Off - Kingsholm Stadium
• IDRC Final - Kingsholm Stadium

About BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service)

BFBS is a military charity and media organisation that entertains, informs, connects, and champions the UK Armed Forces.       

We bring trusted and secure entertainment, news, sport, and information services to the military, their families, and veterans worldwide. We spread happiness and keep people in touch, helping build morale among the military overseas and at sea, offering them a way to share experiences, as well as a valuable connection to life back home.     

We also champion the UK Armed Forces by keeping their activities in the public eye on our BFBS Forces News digital channels.        

And our commercial offering – which provides income for the charity – spans training, digital, and creative services, as well as pioneering technology solutions that enable media and communication in the hardest to reach places.   

About the International Defence Rugby Competition (IDRC)

Running throughout August as a precursor to the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, the International Defence Rugby Competition (IDRC) will pit teams of formidable soldiers, sailors and airwomen against each other to determine the greatest Armed Forces rugby team on the planet. Teams from across the world will be hosted at RMA Sandhurst, Surrey, as they compete over three weeks in venues around London before heading to the finals at Kingsholm, Gloucester on the 3rd September. This is the 2nd Women’s International Defence Rugby Competition. The inaugural event was held in New Zealand in 2022 which saw the French team victorious in a tight final match betweeen them and New Zealand.