▁the ▁next ▁edition ▁of ▁the ▁event ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁with ▁a ▁new ▁four - year ▁cycle ▁from ▁that ▁point ▁forward . ▁New ▁Zealand ▁are ▁the ▁current ▁World ▁Cup ▁hold ers . ▁ ▁As ▁well ▁as ▁the ▁Women ' s ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup ▁there ▁are ▁also ▁other ▁regular ▁tournament s , ▁including ▁a ▁Six ▁Nations , ▁run ▁in ▁parallel ▁to ▁the ▁men ' s ▁competition . ▁The ▁Women ' s ▁Six ▁Nations , ▁first ▁played ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁has ▁been ▁domin ated ▁by ▁England , ▁who ▁have ▁won ▁the ▁tournament ▁on ▁ 1 4 ▁occasions , ▁including ▁a ▁run ▁of ▁seven ▁consecutive ▁wins ▁from ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁However , ▁since ▁then , ▁England ▁have ▁won ▁only ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 7 ; ▁reign ing ▁champion ▁France ▁have ▁won ▁in ▁each ▁even - number ed ▁year ▁( 2 0 1 4 , ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁ 2 0 1 8 ) ▁whilst ▁Ireland ▁won ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁and ▁ 2 0 1 5 . ▁ ▁Professional ▁rugby ▁Rugby ▁union ▁has ▁been ▁professional ised ▁since ▁ 1 9 9 5 . ▁The ▁following ▁table ▁shows ▁fully ▁professional ▁rugby ▁compet itions ▁( sem i - prof essional ▁compet itions ▁are ▁ex cluded ▁from ▁this ▁list ). ▁ ▁Vari ants ▁ ▁Rugby ▁union ▁has ▁spawn ed ▁several ▁variants ▁of ▁the ▁full - contact , ▁ 1 5 - a - side ▁game . ▁The ▁two