We propose here a model to describe the rupture of woven ply laminated structures. The validity scope of this model depends on the ‘diffused damage’ phase up to the first intra-laminar macro-crack only (first ply failure model). The model is based on a previous continuum damage approach [Hochard C, Aubourg PA, Charles JP. Modelling of the mechanical behaviour of woven fabric CFRP laminates up to failure. Compos Sci Technol 2001;61:221–30] and a new non-local fibre rupture criterion. This non-local criterion uses a ply scale characteristic volume of ply thickness and in plane area depending on the meso-structure of the ply. In the case of the balanced woven ply studied here, a simple circular area is chosen and identified on a test showing a stress gradient. The local shear damage and inelastic strain evolution laws and the non-local fibre rupture criterion have been integrated in Abaqus. Numerical results compared to tests for woven ply laminated structures show the efficiency of the proposed approach.