
Red Roses launch national yarn art campaign to inspire a generation ahead of Women's Rugby World Cup 2025
Dow and Heard are leading a creative initiative inviting youngsters to get into rugby union and back the England team by contributing to spectacular Red Rose yarn art takeovers across the country.
A sea of knitted and crochet rugby themed artwork is expected to be displayed across community rugby clubs, host cities, and local communities, and Red Roses winger Dow is encouraging the nation to get involved with their local project.
'Whether you are a lifelong rugby fan, a dedicated crafter, or someone who just wants to play a part in something special, we are encouraging fans across England to get creative and show their support this summer,' Dow said.
'Crochet is a mindful hobby that we use as a squad to bond and create meaningful connections. We want fans new and old to connect with our sport through rugby crochet and knitting, while being part of an inspiring national movement.
'We are in a golden age of women's sport and we feel a responsibility to maximise this incredible opportunity to inspire the next generation of female players and fans across the summer.'
Inspired by the Red Roses love of crochet as a team bonding activity, the yarn art takeovers form part of the RFU's engagement activities designed to inspire female players and deliver a lasting legacy for Women's Rugby World Cup 2025.
Fans wishing to get involved and contribute to displays across their local communities, clubs and cities can download crochet patterns via the England Rugby website. The patterns available are a red rose, bunting and a rugby ball square.
Full details of national display points and submission deadlines will be available via the RFU website HERE.
Supplied creations will then be stitched together by dedicated teams of volunteers ahead of a national unveiling of Yarn Art in early August.

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BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
NI squad - who's fit and who's been on the move?
Northern Ireland will begin their quest to reach a first World Cup since 1986 with home and away qualifying games against Luxembourg and Germany next month, which will be live on the BBC. It will be the first time the squad has assembled since June, and the two tricky games are NI's first competitive fixtures since O'Neill will name his squad for the opening fixtures at the start of September on Thursday afternoon. Ahead of the squad announcement, BBC Sport NI looks at the major talking points surrounding the fitness, form and summer moves that a number of players have made. Bradley among a number of injury doubts Despite Northern Ireland's first World Cup qualifying game against Luxembourg at home on Thursday 4 September still being over two weeks away, O'Neill already has a number of injury main one is Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley, who has missed the start of his club's season with a minor but unspecified sat out the Community Shield final defeat by Crystal Palace and Liverpool's opening Premier League win over Bournemouth on Friday night, with Reds boss Arne Slot yet to give an update on his expectation is that O'Neill will include the 22-year-old in his squad and allow him to prove his fitness such is his importance to the side and especially with a huge game in Cologne against Germany taking place just four days after the Luxembourg fixture.O'Neill is also set to be without goalkeeper Conor Hazard, who is still recovering from a knee injury sustained playing in Northern Ireland's 2-1 friendly loss to Denmark in 27-year-old has missed Plymouth Argyle's first five games of the season with manager Tom Cleverley saying earlier this month that they will be "patient" with the goalkeeper's Brown recently suffered a minor setback from a knee ligament injury that saw him miss Northern Ireland's June friendlies, so he faces a race against time to prove his fitness having failed to feature for Oxford United so far this September international break will definitely come too soon for Jordan midfielder, who joined Preston North End in the summer, will be missing for the next couple of months following ankle a more positive note, Paddy McNair seems in with a chance of returning to the squad after missing the June double-header through injury as he returned to the bench for club San Diego at the weekend. Ballard, Hume and Price start the season well There are quite a few Northern Ireland players who have made a positive start to the campaign at club level which will breed confidence ahead of the upcoming international duo Daniel Ballard and Trai Hume impressed in the Black Cats' first game back in the Premier League, a 3-0 victory against West Ham, with Ballard netting the second with a trademark towering Devenny scored the winning penalty for Crystal Palace in the Community Shield final against Liverpool and came off the bench in the Eagles' 0-0 draw with Chelsea at Stamford real standout so far has been Isaac Price, who has taken his goal scoring form at international level to his club West 21-year-old scored the winner against Blackburn Rovers and then netted twice in their 3-2 win over Wrexham to take him to three goals in two Championship Charles brothers are also finding regular game time in the Championship, with Pierce taking over as number one goalkeeper at crisis club Sheffield Wednesday and has been linked with a move away from the club too with the likes of West Ham and Rangers reportedly interested in acquiring his Shea has started both of Southampton's games under new boss Will Toal was named Bolton Wanderers captain in the summer and netted in their opening day win against Reid has three goals in three games for Stevenage in League One, which could earn him a recall to the squad. Plenty of NI players make summer switches It has been a busy summer for Northern Ireland players with many making the moves to new clubs in search of regular game time and to force their way back into the international reckoning. Midfielder Ethan Galbraith joined Championship side Swansea City from League One Leyton Orient for an undisclosed Donley, who also impressed on loan at Orient last year, has departed Tottenham Hotspur on a temporary basis again, making the move to Championship side Stoke City for the Spencer has switched to Oxford United from Huddersfield while George Saville has dropped down to League One, signing for Luton Taylor has made the permanent move to Blackpool in League One for an undisclosed fee from Nottingham links up with Bailey Peacock-Farrell at the Seasiders, with the goalkeeper joining on loan from Birmingham Boyd-Munce swapped St Mirren for Wycombe Wanderers and has been replaced at the Scottish club by fellow NI midfielder Liam Christy Pym and Luke Southwood have been on the move, with the former joining Grimsby Town and the latter Bristol Bonis has signed for Chesterfield in League Two from Dutch side Ado Den Hagg, while Ross McCausland has left Rangers on loan to move to Cyprus and join Aris most surprising move that has probably ended his hopes of an international recall is Conor Washington's switch to Matlock Town, who play in the eighth tier of English football. Tough set of qualifying fixtures ahead for NI The long road to next year's World Cup finals in the USA, Mexico and Canada begin earnestly, as aforementioned, in Belfast next is a belated start given that most other teams in Europe started their qualifiers in March, but this is due to the fact that NI are in the four-team Group have effectively three ways to qualify for the tournament. If they top the group, they will automatically secure a spot in the World they finish second, they will join the 11 other second-placed teams and the four best Nations League group winners who did not automatically qualify for the World Cup for a play-off which will involve a semi-final and they miss out on the top two, Northern Ireland's group-winning performance in the Nations League means there is still an outside chance of reaching the World O'Neill's side to secure a play-off spot through this route, they would require eight of the 11 teams above them in ranking of group winners to finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying teams are Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, England, Norway, Wales, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden and North opening game is an ideal one to get their campaign off to a flier as Luxembourg are the lowest ranked team in the are also very familiar opponents as O'Neill's side faced Luxembourg twice in the Nations League in the autumn, collecting a win and a draw.O'Neill's side then have the daunting trip to Germany, who will be favourites to progress as Group winners and automatically book their spot at the World next in October, is a home game against Slovakia, who defeated Northern Ireland in extra-time in a Euro 2020 play-off the last time the two sides met, and a home meeting with round off their condensed campaign with two games they will feel they have to win to progress, away against Slovakia and at home to Luxembourg. NI's World Cup qualifiers Luxembourg v Northern Ireland - Thursday, 4 September (19:45 BST)Germany v Northern Ireland - Sunday, 7 September (19:45 BST)Northern Ireland v Slovakia - Friday 10 October (19:45 BST)Northern Ireland v Germany - Monday 13 October (19:45 BST)Slovakia v Northern Ireland - Friday 14 November (19:45 GMT)Northern Ireland v Luxembourg - Monday 17 November (19:45 GMT)


The Guardian
30 minutes ago
- The Guardian
World Cup provides launchpad as women's rugby prepares for liftoff
Back in the day there was a low-profile sport called women's rugby union. Few people went to watch, the media seldom took an interest and the world's top players were enthusiastic amateurs. Anyone predicting Twickenham would one day be packed to the rafters for a standalone women's fixture would have been dismissed as crazy. And now? There is a different sport in town. It is simply known as rugby and now more than ever it belongs to both sexes. Next month's World Cup final, accordingly, has attracted a full house in excess of 80,000 and a huge global television audience. And if all goes to plan the Lionesses will not be the only female sporting queens adorning teenage bedroom walls in England. The Red Roses may or may not be crowned world champions at the end of September but public interest in them is about to soar. The organisers report that 375,000 tickets have been bought before the tournament has even kicked off. Given the entire 2017 competition in Belfast attracted 45,412 people at an average of 1,514 spectators per game, the step change has been remarkable. Little wonder World Rugby's leading officials cannot wait for the 2025 edition to commence. 'It's going to be an amazing tournament,' says Alan Gilpin, the governing body's chief executive. 'We knew when we took the decision to take the 2025 Rugby World Cup to England that it was going to be the right market at the right time. The Lionesses have given us a little reminder of what that means. The movement behind women's sport, particularly in England and across the UK is significant. People are really excited about it.' Because, as Gilpin notes, the next few weeks have the potential to refresh rugby in all its guises. At men's internationals there is usually a more traditional, crustier demographic. Starting with England's opening game against the United States in Sunderland, this tournament is going to hit differently. 'Younger audiences, younger ticket purchasers, a younger TV audience … I think it's going to show a different face of rugby to the UK audience,' says Gilpin. As those of us lucky enough to be present in New Zealand in 2022 can testify, there is also another important ingredient. The number of truly competitive female teams may still be fewer than on the men's side but the style of play is arguably even more marketable. Less meat-head physicality and mindless kicking, more high-class skills, more space in which to run … for novices and connoisseurs alike the games can be hugely watchable. For a prime example have a look back at the breathless finale between England and New Zealand in Auckland three years ago. It may be that England would have won had Lydia Thompson not been sent off in the first half for a high tackle. But what no one could possibly dispute was the quality of the Black Ferns' counterattacking game, their pace, their ability to exploit space and their willingness to take a calculated risk or two. Helped in no small part by the enlightened coaching of the great Wayne Smith and the vastly experienced Sir Graham Henry, New Zealand confounded expectations to win 34-31. Even more important, perhaps, was the feelgood atmosphere at Eden Park on that clear, dry November day. Happy families, compelling new role models, spectacular sport … it was a tantalising vision of just how inclusive the traditionally staid world of rugby could be. And therein lies the real opportunity of the next five weeks. Kate Zackary, the captain of England's first-up opponents, the USA, has already underlined precisely what is at stake. 'This Rugby World Cup isn't just about us,' the back-rower said as the squad began preparations for England 2025. 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Yes, the Rugby Football Union has spent millions of pounds on the squad's preparation while Canada, for example, have been resorting to crowdfunding. But what if jangling nerves ultimately undermine all that? What if they were to ambushed by, say, France in a tense Bristol semi-final? Let's just say a France v Canada final is not what the RFU ideally has in mind. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Even World Rugby freely acknowledges that England are destined to be the tournament's pivotal figures. 'That's not to say the Red Roses have to win for it to be successful because that's not true at all but we obviously expect them to be highly competitive,' says Gilpin. At stake if they lose, however, will be the tournament's carnival feel and, conceivably, the future funding structures of the entire women's game. What if England's long wait to replicate their triumph of 2014 – they have only ever conquered the world twice – is once more extended? It might even prompt all concerned – the RFU included – to wonder if committing millions to building fully professional programmes is absolutely necessary. Then again, let's be honest. England winning every game by 30 points or more may cause some to lose interest, too. For all the thrilling running of Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne, the midfield craft of Megan Jones, the relentless work-rate of Zoe Aldcroft and the all-round quality of their prop forwards Sarah Bern and Maud Muir, the Red Roses need to be pushed all the way. France only lost 43-42 on their last visit to Twickenham in April, while the Black Ferns are experts at peaking when it matters. Or could the combative Canadians emerge as the tournament's dark mooses? Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, it is similarly vital that teams further down the pecking order enjoy the experience. If Japan v Spain in York or Italy v Brazil in Northampton can attract decent attendances, the organisers will also be thrilled. Nor is an excessive number of one-sided blow-outs in anybody's interests. Gilpin acknowledges that 'the challenge for us all is how we drive investment in the women's game … we want the tournament to be even bigger and better in Australia in 2029' and that in this year's edition 'there will be some matches that are less competitive because, in some cases, there is obviously a disparity in experience, professionalism and investment.' In that regard the opening game between John Mitchell's England and the United States will be instructive given New Zealand put 79 points on the women's Eagles in May. The first night crowd at the Stadium of Light will be hoping for a closer contest, not to mention a glimpse of the American social media favourite Ilona Maher. But if the stars align for the hosts even the Lionesses may be temporarily outshone.

Rhyl Journal
7 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
World Cup final tipped to smash attendance record for women's rugby match
Tickets for the match on Saturday, September 27 have sold out, with approximately 82,000 supporters set to be at Allianz Stadium in south-west London. The existing record for a women's 15s fixture is 58,498, set as England clinched the 2023 Six Nations Grand Slam by beating France 38-33 at Twickenham. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, a crowd of 66,000 watched the opening day of the women's rugby sevens programme at Stade de France. The PA news agency understands governing body World Rugby believes it could have sold out the World Cup final, which will be immediately preceded by the bronze medal match, two or three times over. More than 375,000 of the 470,000 tickets available for the 32 World Cup games have been snapped up ahead of Friday's opener between England and the United States at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. Rugby World Cup 2025 chair Gill Whitehead said: 'The final, we are very confident will be the most attended women's rugby match in history, easily surpassing the 66,000 crowd that we saw in Paris 2024. 'I started playing women's rugby 30 years ago and the prospect of girls running out of the tunnel, playing to the three tiers of Allianz packed to the rafters is something perhaps I never hoped or thought I would see. It's certainly what girls' dreams are made of.' England last staged the competition in 2010 when a crowd of just over 13,000 watched the hosts beat current reigning champions New Zealand 13-10 in the final at Twickenham Stoop. Rugby World Cup 2025 managing director Sarah Massey said total ticket sales have already surpassed initial targets and are three times the number bought at the 2021 tournament in New Zealand, which took place a year later than planned due to the coronavirus pandemic. A crowd of 42,579 watched the Black Ferns claim the trophy in 2022 by defeating the Reds Roses 34-31 at Eden Park in Auckland. 'We're ready to break records in attendances, viewership and engagement,' Massey said. 'This is going to be the biggest global celebration of women's rugby that we have ever seen. 'Our message to fans is, don't miss out. This is going to be unmissable. You're going to see thrilling action, electric atmospheres, and those remaining tickets are really selling fast.'