URC considering ‘big money' offer to expand competition to America, with Welsh clubs reduced from four to two
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RTÉ News
8 hours ago
- RTÉ News
World Cup final to smash attendance record for women's rugby as Twickenham sells out
Organisers of the Women's Rugby World Cup expect next month's Twickenham final to smash the attendance record for a women's rugby match. Tickets for the match on Saturday, 27 September 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. It is understood 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 at £10 (€11.50). 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."
Extra.ie
9 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Fans have reacted aptly to Leinster's new 'piddle' away shirt
It's that time of year across all winter sports where the new season is on the horizon and teams get to unveil their new kits. Kits have become more popular than ever in recent years, and fans lap up new releases – when they're done right. Well, ahead of the new URC season next month, the Irish provinces have all released their new kits to some great acclaim, and it's fair to say the same cannot be said for Leinster. The defending URC Champions released their new away kit made by Castore on Tuesday morning, and let's just say people have noticed an unfortunate design flaw on it. Leah Tarpey. Pic: @leinsterrugby/Instagram To put it as politely possible, it looks like the players have had an accident and at that, it looks like a quite dehydrated accident. If that colours looks familiar, you ought to drink more water, the Mayo Clinic recommends 3.7 litres. The comments to the original tweet are a treasure trove for hilarious gifs poking fun at the new jersey. Josh van der Flier in the new Leinster away shirt. Pic: @leinsterrugby/Instagram Some French fans also noticed that the away kit resembles that of Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle, in particular the jersey worn when the French side beat Leinster in the Champions Cup Final in Dublin in 2023. One fan put it; 'Very nice nod to the @staderochelais with this yellow color #SRfever.' While another said; 'White jersey, yellow gradient, excellent idea Leinster' with an accompanying image of La Rochelle's victory in 2023. So it's fair to say these kits mightn't fly off the shelves straight away, but there's no doubt that if Leinster finally get over the line and win their coveted Champions Cup this season, fans won't care what they're wearing. They get their season underway with a tour to South Africa for their first two rounds. They begin it in Cape Town against the DHL Stormers on Friday September 26, before travelling up to Pretoria to face the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday October 4.
Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
World Cup final tipped to smash attendance record for women's rugby match
Organisers of the Women's Rugby World Cup expect next month's Twickenham final to smash the attendance record for a 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.'
