The curtain is finally falling on the 2025 Australian rugby season, marking one of the biggest seasons for the sport in years, with World Cups, Lions tours and historic wins.
With such a jam-packed year coming to a close, comes the opportunity to look back on how much rugby Australian fans enjoyed across the season.
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Rugby.com.au breaks down the 12 biggest Australian rugby stories of the 2025 season.
The Wallabies’ domestic season saw a host of retirements dominate the headlines.
Nic White experienced the complete John Farnham treatment, farewelled after the third British & Irish Lions Test, only to return to the Test arena later in South Africa due to injuries. He eventually called time after the Argentina Tests, but not before one last week in camp as cover for the Bledisloe Cup.
James Slipper also got his flowers, becoming the first front-rower and Australian to 150 caps, calling time after the second Bledisloe Test in Perth.
Former skipper Dave Porecki called time suddenly, starting the second Lions Test and hanging up the boots shortly after the third, following an injury that ruled him out.
The all-conquering Women’s Sevens finally got their elusive home title with a thrilling win over New Zealand in the Final in Perth.
The Aussies had won it all (besides Olympic gold) over the past three years, but success in Australia had haunted them.
It was fitting as Australia Day came to a close that Tim Walsh’s side turned it on, with Heidi Dennis announcing herself as a star with two game-turning tries to take down their arch rivals.
The day was only made better by the Men running the table late to secure their spot in the Final, with the thrilling win over South Africa in the semi-finals the highlight.
The big question heading into 2025 was the future of the Wallabies head coaching role, with the answer coming later than first forecast in Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss.
Joe Schmidt was initially announced to be stepping down after the Rugby Championship.
However, the legendary coach extended his time until mid-2026, with his former Irish assistant announced as his replacement in April.
The handover continues with Kiss, who will formally take the role after the July internationals.
In terms of a singular moment/event, there are probably no days bigger than August 16 for Australian Rugby in 2025.
The Wallabies' 38-22 comeback win over the Springboks will live on in the history books as one of the finest of the modern era.
Down 22-0 against the reigning World Champions, the Wallabies stunned the entire Rugby world with a miraculous comeback, putting on 38 points straight for a famous win.
It broke a 62-year drought at Ellis Park and remains one of the largest comebacks in the team’s history.
There’s never been a bigger Women’s Rugby World Cup than the event in England.
Whether it’s the number of teams, crowds or viewership, the 2025 edition of the tournament has set the bar for events heading forward.
Australia started their tournament with a record-breaking victory over Samoa, before a thrilling 31-all draw with the USA in York.
A packed crowd filled Brighton as royalty watched eventual champions England best Jo Yapp’s team, who would go down to Canada in the quarter-finals.
England and Canada battled it out in the Final, with a packed Twickenham crowd basking in the Red Roses' glory.
It was a tour that had it all.
From thrilling matches to controversy, the 2025 British & Irish Lions captured the Rugby world for six weeks.
The Tests found themselves firmly in the spotlight, with the Australians forced to rally after a tough game one defeat.
A game-deciding referee call in the final moments of the second Test claimed the series for the Lions as Hugo Keenan scored in the final seconds.
The Aussies got their revenge in the final match in Sydney, with not even a lightning delay stopping their momentum.
