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BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
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. Advertisement 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. World Rugby chief of women's rugby Sally Horrox, World Rugby chair Brett Robinson, Women's RWC 2025 managing director Sarah Massey and Women's RWC 2025 competition director Yvonne Nolan during the tournament opening press conference. Photo: Adam Davy/PA. 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. Advertisement 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. Tickets for the World Cup final at Allianz Stadium have sold out. Photo: Adam Davy/PA. '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. Advertisement Massey says the tournament will be 'the biggest global celebration of women's rugby that we have ever seen'. Photo: Adam Davy/PA. 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.' Advertisement
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
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.'
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Russell inspires Bath to Premiership title despite late Leicester fightback
There was barely a cloud in the clear summer sky in south-west London and blue was also the primary colour on the field. For the first time in 29 years, Bath are the champions of England and any debate about the big-game nerve of Johann van Graan's multi-talented squad can now be quietly laid to rest alongside Leicester's shredded dreams. Related: Leicester coach Cheika hits out at Cole yellow card after final defeat by Bath Advertisement Bath will have some idea of how their old rivals are feeling, having suffered a similarly agonising fate against Northampton in last year's final. They were not at their absolute best by their own high standards, but once they finally remembered how to catch a rugby ball – a recurring problem in the first half – they had a touch too much for their opponents whose spirited final-quarter rally came too late. The game-splitting moment had already arrived in the 49th minute courtesy of a deft interception by Finn Russell in his own half. Russell has several more big games ahead of him in a British & Irish Lions jersey but his quick mind was precisely why Bath invested so much cash to sign him. With the line not far away he lobbed the ball to the supporting Max Ojomoh who gleefully did the rest. Ojomoh's dad, Steve, won 10 trophies with Bath in the 1990s including five league titles, so the young centre still has some catching up to do. For Bath supporters of a certain age, however, it was the sweetest of moments, a link between a glorious past and an increasingly enjoyable present. Their side are the sixth winners of the title in six seasons, but could conceivably be in the box seat for the foreseeable future. Related: Bath hold off Leicester to win Premiership title after 23-21 victory – live reaction Advertisement It was not the worst of days for South African sport, either. Having cleaned up in the World Test Championship final at Lord's, Bath's first try was scored by the charging Springbok prop Thomas du Toit and their victory was another triumph for the shrewd Van Graan, the Pretoria-raised head coach who has brought order and strategic nous to north-east Somerset. This was the third trophy Bath have reeled in this season and, as with their Challenge Cup and Premiership Cup successes, they proved impossible to overhaul in the second half despite last-quarter tries from Solomone Kata and Emeka Ilione. Overall, it was another gripping advert for The Premiership – or the 'Prem', as it will be officially retitled from next season, apparently on the grounds that polysyllabic words are now for rugby dinosaurs. The continuing push to make rugby more marketable to a Gen Z audience could spell trouble for the double-barrelled likes of Ollie Hassell-Collins – or OHC as he will be known in future. Of more immediate relevance was whether Leicester could possibly catch Bath cold in the early exchanges. After Sam Ryder and his electric guitar had murdered God Save The King in broad daylight, the lively Jack van Poortvliet sniped over from close range after a strong forward rumble and Handré Pollard, whose excellent kick to the corner had established the platform, also nailed the conversion Bath did respond swiftly with a successful Russell penalty but when the fly-half made a lovely little half-break his pass to the charging Joe Cokanasiga fell frustratingly to earth. This is a side, though, who possess a wide range of threats. Close to the line they have any number of potential arrowheads and with 26 minutes gone it was the turn of the unstoppable Du Toit to storm through the defensive line and score. Now it was Leicester's turn to worry, particularly when Julián Montoya was sent to the sin-bin for a no arms tackle. Advertisement While Bath were still making too many handling errors, this was too hot a day to be playing with a reduced number of players for long periods. Leicester also had to sacrifice their Welsh international openside Tommy Reffell to allow for a replacement hooker, and it was Bath who finished the half the stronger with Russell threading over another long-range penalty to extend the half-time margin to 13-7. The 7-1 penalty count against the Tigers in the opening 40 minutes also told a story. Michael Cheika was growing animated on the sideline, all too aware that Bath are a side who like to turn the screw via their bench in the second half of games. The last time they had lost in the Premiership – sorry, Prem – after being ahead at the interval was in November 2023. Bath had also scored more tries and conceded fewer than any other team in the league during the regular season, topping the table by 11 points. Only last month they beat Leicester 43-15 at the Rec but this was a final, with all the extra nerves and little uncertainties that inevitably brings. But then came Russell's poach of Pollard's pass and the Tigers were suddenly 20-7 down. They needed fresh impetus and, bang on cue, out of the tunnel came Dan Cole and Ben Youngs, both playing their final games before retirement. Kata's 67th-minute try offered a glimmer of fairytale hope. Pollard had earlier dragged a penalty wide, but the loyal Cole was sent to the sin bin for crashing into Russell in the air and, despite Ilione's powerful surge, Leicester came up just short.
The Guardian
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Finn Russell inspires Bath to Premiership title despite late Leicester fightback
There was barely a cloud in the clear summer sky in south-west London and blue was also the primary colour on the field. For the first time in 29 years, Bath are the champions of England and any debate about the big-game nerve of Johann van Graan's multi-talented squad can now be quietly laid to rest alongside Leicester's shredded dreams. Bath will have some idea of how their old rivals are feeling, having suffered a similarly agonising fate against Northampton in last year's final. They were not at their absolute best by their own high standards, but once they finally remembered how to catch a rugby ball – a recurring problem in the first half – they had a touch too much for their opponents whose spirited final quarter rally came too late. The game-splitting moment had already arrived in the 49th minute courtesy of a deft interception by Finn Russell in his own half. Russell has several more big games ahead of him in a British & Irish Lions jersey but his quick mind was precisely why Bath invested so much cash to sign him. With the line not far away he lobbed the ball to the supporting Max Ojomoh who gleefully did the rest. Ojomoh's dad Steve won 10 trophies with Bath in the 1990s including five league titles, so the young centre still has some catching up to do. For Bath supporters of a certain age, however, it was the sweetest of moments, a link between a glorious past and an increasingly enjoyable present. Their side are the sixth different winners of the title in as many seasons, but could conceivably be in the box seat for the foreseeable future. It was not the worst for days for South African sport, either. Having cleaned up in the World Test Championship final at Lord's, Bath's first try was scored by the charging Springbok prop Thomas du Toit and their victory was another triumph for the shrewd Johann van Graan, the Pretoria-raised head coach who has brought order and strategic nous to north-east Somerset. This was the third trophy Bath have reeled in this season and, as with their Challenge Cup and Premiership Cup successes, they proved impossible to overhaul in the second half despite last quarter tries from Solomone Kata and Emeka Ilione. Overall, it was another gripping advert for The Premiership – or the 'Prem', as it will be officially retitled from next season, apparently on the grounds that polysyllabic words are now for rugby dinosaurs. At least Bath are already bang on message but at this rate, the push to make rugby more marketable to a younger audience could spell trouble for the double-barrelled likes of Ollie Hassell-Collins. Or OHC as he will doubtless be known next season. Of more immediate relevance was whether Leicester could possibly catch Bath cold in the early exchanges. After Sam Ryder and his electric guitar had murdered God Save The King in broad daylight, the Tigers wasted no time in doing so through the lively Jack van Poortvliet, whose duel with Bath's captain Ben Spencer was always going to be important. Capitalising on a rumbling forward maul, the England scrum-half sniped over from close range and Handré Pollard, whose excellent kick to the corner had established the platform, nailed the conversion as well. Bath swiftly responded with a successful Russell penalty but when the fly-half made a lovely little half-break his pass to the charging Cokanasiga fell frustratingly to earth. Bath's secret, though, is the range of threats they pose. Close to the line they have any number of potential arrowheads and, with 26 minutes gone, it was the turn of the unstoppable Du Toit to storm through the defensive line and score. Over went Russell's conversion and now it was Leicester's turn to worry, particularly when Julián Montoya was sin-binned for a no arms tackle. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion While Bath were still making too many handling errors, this was too hot a day to be playing with a reduced number of players for long periods. Leicester also had to sacrifice their Welsh international openside Tommy Reffell to allow for a replacement hooker, and it was Bath who finished the half the stronger with Russell threading over another long-range penalty to extend the half-time margin to 13-7. The 7-1 penalty count against the Tigers in the opening 40 minutes also told a story. Michael Cheika was growing animated on the sideline, all too aware that Bath are a side who like to turn the screw via their bench in the second half of games. The last time they had lost in the Premiership – sorry, Prem – after being ahead at the interval was in November 2023. Bath had also scored more tries and conceded fewer than any other team in the league during the regular season, topping the table by 11 points. Only last month they beat Leicester 43-15 at the Rec but this was a final, with all the extra nerves and little uncertainties that inevitably brings. Handling-wise, Bath were nowhere near their slick best on a stage which is all about accuracy. But then came Russell's poach of Pollard's pass and the Tigers were suddenly 20-7 down. They needed fresh impetus and, bang on cue, out of the tunnel came Dan Cole and Ben Youngs, both playing their final games before retirement. Kata's 67th minute try offered a glimmer of fairytale hope, but then the loyal Cole was sin-binned for crashing into Russell in the air and, despite Ilione's powerful surge, Leicester came up just short.
BreakingNews.ie
12-06-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
URC Final preview: Leinster face showdown against the Bulls at Croke Park
Leinster will be looking for their first piece of silverware since 2021 when they take on South Africa's Bulls at Croke Park on Saturday. The Bulls lost to compatriots the Stormers three seasons ago and were stunned by Glasgow Warriors in the decider in Pretoria last season, a game they were heavily tipped to win. Advertisement They return to the final again, this time as underdogs against a Leinster team stocked full with Irish internationals, and two of the world's best players in South African lock RG Snyman and New Zealand centre Jordie Barrett. Meanwhile, Leinster coach Leo Cullen has kept faith with flyhalf Sam Prendergast despite some jittery performances in recent weeks, and has recalled centre Garry Ringrose and loose-forward Josh van der Flier after they recovered from injury. They are the only two changes to the starting team, with Snyman on the bench against his former side. Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan believes his side will have to match the Bulls' brawn and impose themselves on the game. Advertisement "I think everything comes off the back of physicality," he says. "You can have the best game plan in the world and it won't go well if your physicality is not right. "The Bulls have the best scrum in the league stats-wise. They are very hard to play and I'm sure they will have a plan to disrupt our scrum and try and get over the top of us and we'll do similar and bring energy too." Bulls coach Jake White took the Springboks to the Rugby World Cup title in 2007, but has found trophy success with the Pretoria-based side hard to come by, with several near misses. "We are aware that we've played three finals, but we're also aware that we've surpassed expectations, and hopefully, in this game, we get to show what we learnt from the other finals," White told reporters as he named his side on Thursday. Advertisement "We are going to have to put the opposition under pressure. Leinster is a quality, well-coached team that is revered by many in this competition. My message to my players for the last four months was to try and match Leinster's consistency, and we have, and now we're in the final." White has made one enforced change to his match-day 23 from the semi-final win over the Sharks, with Marco van Staden into the side for the injured Cameron Hanekom. Marcell Coetzee switches from flank to number eight. The game kicks off at 5pm on Saturday, June 14th with coverage starting on TG4 at 16:15pm. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚'𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛. 💙 Here is your Leinster team to take on @BlueBullsRugby in the @URCOfficial Grand Final at Croke Park on Saturday! 🔵🔥 Team news 👉 #LEIvBUL #NeverLessThanEverything — Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) June 12, 2025
