New Year – New Us… Well, not really! Hello readers, and welcome to RugbyDump 2025, where we continue to love every level of Rugby and look to share our passion for the game with you!
Now just about removed enough from final rugby action or 2024, it is time to look ahead to what will be another epically monstrous and unpredictable year of rugby.
So, without further ado, here are our five bold predictions for the world of rugby in 2025.
Six Nations ‘ThreePeat’
Just how difficult is to win back-to-back Six Nations? Well based on history it’s blooming impossible. Since the current format was introduced at the turn of the millennium when every rugby administrator, fan and player thought, ‘Hmm, a trip to Rome would be nice’, no side has ever secured three titles in a row. Several sides have gone back-to-back with England (00,01 & 16,17), Wales (12,13), France (06,07) and Ireland (14,15 & 22,23). Thus, it would take a major effort if an Andy Farrell-less Ireland were to lock in a third title in 2025. Of course, historically, this is the better year for Ireland, with England and France coming to Dublin; however, given their mixed form and the rise in Scotland and France, in particular, this year will be a mighty struggle. Despite this, the men in Green will do it, albeit a Grand Slam feels somewhat of a stretch.
Back-To-Back Boks
Speaking of back-to-back, if you don’t wear a black jersey, you ain’t winning back-to-back Rugby Championships. Well, at least not historically, with the Kiwis winning every title since 2012, bar three (Aus 2015 and Boks 2019 & 2024). This trend, however, will be bucked in 2024, with the Boks set to face their biggest foes in Auckland and Wellington. Whilst there is no doubt the All Blacks got better as the year went on, this Bok side have proven their ability to win anywhere. Certainly, two losses away is a possibility, but we have a sneaking suspicion they will win at least one and go with an otherwise unbeaten rest of the campaign. Certainly, Argentina could cause another upset in round six, but with the title on the line, Rassie Erasmus’s side will be baying for blood in their unique clash at Twickenham.
Holy Schmidt
Tying into the above prediction, 2025 will be the year the Wallabies beat the All Blacks. Since November 9th 2020, when the Wallabies won in Brisbane, there have been nine straight losses against their trans-Tasman rivals. On October 4th 2025, in Perth, Joe Schmidt’s side will take down their rivals in revenge for a narrow loss a week earlier in Eden Park. This result will secure a second-place finish in The Rugby Championship to go along with Schmidt’s beautifully masterminded drawn series with the British and Irish Lions in July, where they will lose the first test, take the second and draw the third! Write it down! From here, Schmidt will be given an Australian passport, become the Prime Minister and make the NRL a feeder league for Rugby Union.
Global Season
Pimms on the lawn, anyone? Guinness in the sun? Potential sun in Scotland? Well, folks, it is all ahead of us! Putting to rest the dark, cold evenings of December and January, where pitches are often turned into ice rinks or bogs, we will finally have a global season! The South will continue to play in their often balmy winter sun whilst the North will shift to a season that means we actually need to pack suncream! Of course, this is far above our pay grade, but wouldn’t it be great if both sides of the equator ran at the same time? No more excuses of rustiness or tiredness, everyone going to the World Cup with the same level of prep and of course, not freezing to death in the stands. Ah, the Rugby Gods have listened, and the changes have been implemented! Bring it on!
Tier Two Triumph
Stretching the theme of being a tier two side, Georgia and Fiji each concluded exceptionally positive years with some great results in 2024. For the Georgians, tight battles with Italy and Australia, with victories over Tonga and Japan, built on their superb 2022 victory over Wales. On the other side of the ledger, Fiji downed Wales in Cardiff for the first time, building on their comprehensive Pacific Nations Cup victory. In Short, both sides proved once again that they should be dining at the top table of International Rugby. Behind this pairing, the USA showed solid growth, and Spain, Portugal, Chile, and Uruguay are all showing green shoots of development. Thus a promotion for Georgia to the Six Nations and Fiji (and Japan) to the Rugby Championship sound like logical next steps. Going along with our global calendars, our crystal balls are showing us the most positive timelines, and we will get an announcement of this happening in 2025!
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