In an announcement, it has been revealed that England will set the stage for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. The opening match on August 22 is a moment for the tournament as it ventures into territory, bringing the action of international rugby union to a 49,000-capacity football ground for the very first time.
Also Read: Riot in Brazil as Santos FC Faces First Relegation
The decision to choose the Stadium of Light as the launchpad for the global event reflects an initiative by World Rugby to make the Women’s Rugby World Cup the most accessible and widely-viewed tournament to date.
Sir Bill Beaumont, the chairman of World Rugby, expressed the organization’s vision, stating that the 2025 edition would be a generational moment for rugby.
Sunderland, a city with an interest in women’s sports, is set to be the place of rugby fervor as the Red Roses take to the field for the inaugural match.
The choice of the Stadium of Light as the opening venue signifies a move to captivate sports enthusiasts across the North East and beyond.
The region, known for its passion for sports, is expected to rally behind the event, a dynamic atmosphere for players and fans alike.
The importance of Sunderland hosting games in the 2025 World Cup has not been lost on England’s rugby legend, Sarah Hunter.
The former captain, now serving as the Red Roses’ transition coach, expressed her excitement about bringing elite rugby to her native North East.
Also Read: Uganda Qualify for Men’s ICC T20 World Cup 2024
Hunter believes that hosting major events can interest and inspire the next generation of players, particularly in a region teeming with young girls passionate about the sport.
“It’s huge,” Hunter addressed. “There are so many young girls playing rugby in the North East of England, and bringing mass events can really generate interest and inspire the next generation.”
The expansion of the Women’s Rugby World Cup to 16 teams, up from 12 in the previous tournament, underlines the global growth and recognition of women’s rugby.
England, as hosts and two-time winners, will be joined by champions New Zealand, as well as teams like France and Canada, who secured semi-final spots in the previous edition. The tournament’s grand finale will take place at the Twickenham Stadium in London on September 27.
Organizers are optimistic about breaking attendance records, with aspirations of surpassing the 58,498 spectators who witnessed the Red Roses’ victory over France in the Women’s Six Nations decider earlier this year.
England great Sarah Hunter, with her experience in four World Cups during her playing career, is fully supportive of the organizers’ goal to make the 2025 event the best-attended in the competition’s history.
“The growth of the game has been huge,” Hunter emphasized. “I 100 per cent back World Rugby and the RFU for saying it’s going to be the biggest attended.”
Also Read: Novak Djokovic Accused a Section of British Fans of Disrespect
The full list of venues for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup includes:
- Twickenham Stadium, London (Capacity: 82,000)
- Stadium of Light, Sunderland (Capacity: 49,000)
- Amex Stadium, Brighton (Capacity: 31,876)
- Ashton Gate, Bristol (Capacity: 27,000)
- Sandy Park, Exeter (Capacity: 15,600)
- Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton (Capacity: 15,249)
- Salford Community Stadium, Manchester (Capacity: 12,000)
- LNER Community Stadium, York (Capacity: 8,500).
The government’s support for the 10th edition of the Women’s Rugby World Cup underlines the country’s commitment to hosting major sporting events.
Stuart Andrew, the Sports Minister, expressed delight in the decision to spread the tournament across various regions.
“I am absolutely delighted they have chosen the North East to have the opening match,” said Stuart Andrew. “What happens beforehand and what happens after is just as important as the tournament itself. If we can really grow the game and encourage more women and girls to take part in rugby, then that will help us achieve our wider ambitions of expanding sport for women and girls.”
The success of the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 victory has been cited as a source of inspiration for the Women’s Rugby World Cup organizers.
Sarah Massey, the managing director of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, addressed the importance of visibility in inspiring future generations of female athletes.
The commercial landscape for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup is with four official partners – Mastercard, Capgemini, Gallagher, and Mitsubishi Electric already on board.
Also Read: ICC Bans Transgender Players from Women’s Cricket
