In a selection heavily dominated by the newly crowned world champions from England, France wing Joanna Grisez, outstanding during the World Cup despite France’s 4th place, is the only French player named in the women’s team of the year chosen by World Rugby.

World Rugby unveiled on Thursday 2 October its selection of the best players of the season, a fifteen heavily monopolised by the Red Roses, world champions on home soil, with seven representatives (Kildunne, Jones, Harrison, Matthews, Ward, Muir and Botterman).

Besides England, the team features four New Zealanders (Sorensen-McGee, Brunt, Miller, Olsen-Baker) and only three Canadians (Tuttosi, De Goede, Pelletier), beaten finalists at the World Cup. Joanna Grisez is the only French player in the 2025 women’s team of the year unveiled by World Rugby.

A pretty strong signal for French rugby: even when the national team is not competing at its best, individuals like Grisez continue to shine. There is no doubt that the 28-year-old, also a sevens international, was selected for her ability to appear at the decisive moment thanks, among other things, to her blistering footwork.

The full 2025 team of the year (with Grisez on the wing):

15 – Kildunne (ENG) ; 14 – Sorensen-McGee (NZL), 13 – M. Jones (ENG), 12 – Brunt (NZL), 11 – Grisez (FRA) ; 10 -Harrison (ENG), 9 – Pelletier (CAN) ; 7 – J. Miller (NZL), 8 – Olsen-Baker (NZL), 6 – Matthews (ENG) ; 5 -Ward (ENG), 4 – De Goede (CAN) ; 3 – Muir (ENG), 2 – Tuttosi (CAN), 1 – Botterman (ENG)