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.'
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RTÉ News
25 minutes 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."
Irish Examiner
25 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Cool Ruckings: Brazil aim to make waves at their first Women's Rugby World Cup
SIXTEEN. That is how many Tests Brazil's women's rugby team has played, just six more than England played in 2024 alone. The Yaras have recorded five wins but one of those was history-making: a first victory against Colombia last June that secured qualification for the Rugby World Cup. They will be the first South American country at the women's tournament and the first Brazil team, male or female, to compete in rugby's global showpiece. 'It is incredible,' says their captain, Eshyllen Coimbra. The remarkable story began in 2008 with their first international match. Brazil lost 10-0 to the Netherlands in what would be their sole fixture before an 11-year hiatus, mainly due to a lack of regional opponents. Brazil's union focused on women's sevens and rugby league before the 15s team was revived in 2019. One of the main reasons for doing so was the potential for World Cup qualification. For the 2021 tournament (staged in 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic) Brazil were beaten by Colombia in a qualifier, the victors going on to lose to Scotland in a playoff. However, for the expanded 2025 tournament, South America was granted a guaranteed qualification spot. That place was decided in a winner-takes-all encounter between Brazil and Colombia. Brazil came away with a convincing 34-13 victory in which Coimbra was one of the try-scorers. The captain was emotional when the full-time whistle blew, but World Cup qualification was not the first thing on her mind. 'It was a very unbelievable thing to win the game against Colombia because we had about six or seven losses before that game, it was the first time we won,' says Coimbra, who has a full-time player contract with Brazil and is also studying journalism. 'I wasn't thinking about the Rugby World Cup, it was the first win, and I couldn't believe it. 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One of the most experienced players is Edna Santini, who is poised to become the first player to appear at a Rugby World Cup, Rugby World Cup Sevens, Sevens World Series, Olympic Games and a Rugby League World Cup. The 33-year-old says: 'It is a very important personal milestone. Having the opportunity to play each tournament is really meaningful to me. To conquer everything with Brazil rugby, it's so important.' Santini and the rest of squad are keen to make it clear they are not at the 2025 tournament just to make up the numbers. They want to make an impact, while acknowledging the difficulty of their pool. BADGE OF PRIDE: Brazil's Maria Gabriela Graf Pool D contains South Africa, Italy and France, three opponents they have never played, all of whom will be favourites. Positive results may be difficult to come by so what will success look like? The message is clear throughout the squad. 'It is an opportunity to show the Brazilian way to play rugby,' Coimbra says. 'We want to do our best, without looking at results. We want to surprise people and make people see what Brazil rugby is about. Each game there are expectations to play the best rugby we can but the main goal is to show Brazilian rugby for the first time.' Santini says: 'Brazil being in the World Cup is new, we have high expectations in terms of doing our best, playing the hardest we can. We want to show we trained really hard to represent the Brazil rugby union in the best way we could.' Performance and pride in the shirt may be the main objectives but the best opportunity for a surprise win will be their opener against South Africa. While the Springboks have far more experience, Italy and France are both another step ahead. Caffera believes his side are capable of causing an upset. The 46-year-old, who played for Uruguay at the men's 2003 Rugby World Cup, says: 'For me it is the game that, if we do all good things and we have an amazing day, maybe we can do it. I don't think it'll happen against Italy or France. But with the weaknesses of South Africa and our strengths, maybe that can be the day.' Regardless of results, the coach believes the tournament will hugely benefit his squad. He explains the experience of playing Tier 1 nations will be significant but to continue to progress, they need more games. The creation of a South American tournament would be the answer for Caffera but he understands the challenges – nations such as Argentina and Chile do not have established women's teams. The coach adds: 'It's [about] playing with big countries and playing in big tournaments. At the moment we don't have that and we don't have that on the continent, it's going to be hard for us growing in the future without a 15s tournament. We really need a South American tournament to grow this team and grow the young players too. If we want to be a good team in the future we need to grow the young players and for me tournaments and games like that are key. 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The 42
43 minutes ago
- The 42
More than 80,000 fans expected to attend World Cup final at Twickenham
THE WORLD RUGBY Cup final will set a record attendance for a women's game next month with a crowd of more than 80,000 spectators expected at a sold-out Twickenham, tournament organisers said on Tuesday. Officials also announced that more than 375,000 tickets have been sold across all 32 matches, at eight venues, with the tournament starting Friday when hosts and favourites England face the United States at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. Selling out Twickenham, the southwest London home of English rugby union, for the final on 27 September had long been an ambition of tournament organisers, and it is one they have now achieved even before the event kicks off. The previous record attendance for a stand-alone women's rugby match was set at last year's Olympic Sevens final in Paris. '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 can confirm today that the final at the Allianz (Twickenham) Stadium will be sold out,' Women's RWC 2025 chair Gill Whitehead told reporters. Advertisement Whitehead, recalling the last time England hosted the event in 2010, when the final was staged at the nearby Twickenham Stoop, the home of London club Harlequins, added: 'The last time England hosted the Women's Rugby World Cup, the girls played (the final) at the Stoop around the corner to a crowd of 13,000. '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 the Allianz packed to the rafters is something perhaps I never hoped or thought I would see and it's certainly what girls' dreams are made of.' England's Red Roses have lost only once in their past 58 matches – a defeat by New Zealand in the Covid-delayed 2022 World Cup final. Yet they have lost five of the last six World Cup finals to New Zealand, with 2014 — when England beat Canada in the showpiece match — their most recent global 15-a-side title. Even though New Zealand and England have monopolised the final in recent editions, tournament managing director Sarah Massey said the tournament would be 'unmissable' for fans of the sport. 'We're ready to break records in attendances, viewership and engagement. This is going to be the biggest global celebration of women's rugby that we have ever seen,' said Massey. 'We're really pleased today to be able to announce that we've now sold 375,000 tickets across all those matches, surpassing all our initial ticket targets and really showing what this tournament is going to bring. 'That's three times the number of tickets that were sold for the last Women's Rugby World Cup. Our message to fans is, don't miss out. This is going to be unmissable.' Matches will also be held in Brighton, Bristol, Exeter, Northampton, Salford and York. – © AFP 2025
