Latest news with #GillWhitehead
Rhyl Journal
7 hours ago
- Sport
- 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.'
The Advertiser
14 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Women's Rugby World Cup hails huge ticket sales
The tenth Women's Rugby World Cup, which opens in England this weekend, looks set to smash attendance records and set a very high bar for Australia's hosting in 2029. Organisers have announced ticket sales that have totally dwarfed previous tournaments, including an 82,000 Twickenham sellout for the final. To date 375,000 of the 470,000 available tickets have been sold, organisers said on Tuesday. That is three times the number at the last tournament in New Zealand in 2022 and more than 10 times the 30,000 for the last World Cup held in England in 2010. The final on September 27 will create a new record for a women's international, currently 58,498 at the same stadium for England v France in the 2023 Six Nations. "We are very confident the final will be the most attended women's rugby match in history, easily surpassing the 66,000 crowd that in Paris in 2024 (for the Olympic Sevens)," said Gill Whitehead, chair of the 2025 Rugby World Cup. "I started playing women's rugby 30 years ago, I've absolutely loved it, but the prospect of the girls running out the tunnel and playing to the three tiers of Allianz, packed to the rafters. It's something perhaps I never hoped or thought I would see. It's certainly what girls' dreams are made of." More than 40,000 will be in Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Friday night (local time) to watch favourites England play United States. Also in Pool A Australia's Wallaroos begin their campaign against Samoa in Manchester on Saturday (2100 AEST). England have won 57 of their last 58 games - defeat to New Zealand in the final three years ago being the blip. New Zealand, seeking a seventh title, France and Canada look the only teams remotely qualified to challenge them in rthe 16-team event. World Rugby confirmed on Tuesday that this World Cup's four semi-finalists will qualify automatically for the 2029 edition, joining hosts Australia. The tenth Women's Rugby World Cup, which opens in England this weekend, looks set to smash attendance records and set a very high bar for Australia's hosting in 2029. Organisers have announced ticket sales that have totally dwarfed previous tournaments, including an 82,000 Twickenham sellout for the final. To date 375,000 of the 470,000 available tickets have been sold, organisers said on Tuesday. That is three times the number at the last tournament in New Zealand in 2022 and more than 10 times the 30,000 for the last World Cup held in England in 2010. The final on September 27 will create a new record for a women's international, currently 58,498 at the same stadium for England v France in the 2023 Six Nations. "We are very confident the final will be the most attended women's rugby match in history, easily surpassing the 66,000 crowd that in Paris in 2024 (for the Olympic Sevens)," said Gill Whitehead, chair of the 2025 Rugby World Cup. "I started playing women's rugby 30 years ago, I've absolutely loved it, but the prospect of the girls running out the tunnel and playing to the three tiers of Allianz, packed to the rafters. It's something perhaps I never hoped or thought I would see. It's certainly what girls' dreams are made of." More than 40,000 will be in Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Friday night (local time) to watch favourites England play United States. Also in Pool A Australia's Wallaroos begin their campaign against Samoa in Manchester on Saturday (2100 AEST). England have won 57 of their last 58 games - defeat to New Zealand in the final three years ago being the blip. New Zealand, seeking a seventh title, France and Canada look the only teams remotely qualified to challenge them in rthe 16-team event. World Rugby confirmed on Tuesday that this World Cup's four semi-finalists will qualify automatically for the 2029 edition, joining hosts Australia. The tenth Women's Rugby World Cup, which opens in England this weekend, looks set to smash attendance records and set a very high bar for Australia's hosting in 2029. Organisers have announced ticket sales that have totally dwarfed previous tournaments, including an 82,000 Twickenham sellout for the final. To date 375,000 of the 470,000 available tickets have been sold, organisers said on Tuesday. That is three times the number at the last tournament in New Zealand in 2022 and more than 10 times the 30,000 for the last World Cup held in England in 2010. The final on September 27 will create a new record for a women's international, currently 58,498 at the same stadium for England v France in the 2023 Six Nations. "We are very confident the final will be the most attended women's rugby match in history, easily surpassing the 66,000 crowd that in Paris in 2024 (for the Olympic Sevens)," said Gill Whitehead, chair of the 2025 Rugby World Cup. "I started playing women's rugby 30 years ago, I've absolutely loved it, but the prospect of the girls running out the tunnel and playing to the three tiers of Allianz, packed to the rafters. It's something perhaps I never hoped or thought I would see. It's certainly what girls' dreams are made of." More than 40,000 will be in Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Friday night (local time) to watch favourites England play United States. Also in Pool A Australia's Wallaroos begin their campaign against Samoa in Manchester on Saturday (2100 AEST). England have won 57 of their last 58 games - defeat to New Zealand in the final three years ago being the blip. New Zealand, seeking a seventh title, France and Canada look the only teams remotely qualified to challenge them in rthe 16-team event. World Rugby confirmed on Tuesday that this World Cup's four semi-finalists will qualify automatically for the 2029 edition, joining hosts Australia.
RTÉ News
16 hours ago
- Sport
- 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."
The 42
16 hours ago
- Sport
- 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
Perth Now
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Women's Rugby World Cup hails huge ticket sales
The tenth Women's Rugby World Cup, which opens in England this weekend, looks set to smash attendance records and set a very high bar for Australia's hosting in 2029. Organisers have announced ticket sales that have totally dwarfed previous tournaments, including an 82,000 Twickenham sellout for the final. To date 375,000 of the 470,000 available tickets have been sold, organisers said on Tuesday. That is three times the number at the last tournament in New Zealand in 2022 and more than 10 times the 30,000 for the last World Cup held in England in 2010. The final on September 27 will create a new record for a women's international, currently 58,498 at the same stadium for England v France in the 2023 Six Nations. "We are very confident the final will be the most attended women's rugby match in history, easily surpassing the 66,000 crowd that in Paris in 2024 (for the Olympic Sevens)," said Gill Whitehead, chair of the 2025 Rugby World Cup. "I started playing women's rugby 30 years ago, I've absolutely loved it, but the prospect of the girls running out the tunnel and playing to the three tiers of Allianz, packed to the rafters. It's something perhaps I never hoped or thought I would see. It's certainly what girls' dreams are made of." More than 40,000 will be in Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Friday night (local time) to watch favourites England play United States. Also in Pool A Australia's Wallaroos begin their campaign against Samoa in Manchester on Saturday (2100 AEST). England have won 57 of their last 58 games - defeat to New Zealand in the final three years ago being the blip. New Zealand, seeking a seventh title, France and Canada look the only teams remotely qualified to challenge them in rthe 16-team event. World Rugby confirmed on Tuesday that this World Cup's four semi-finalists will qualify automatically for the 2029 edition, joining hosts Australia.
