Women's rugby is set to experience a landmark moment this year, as the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup prepares to kick off in England with record-breaking anticipation and unprecedented ticket sales. The tournament, which commences with hosts England facing the United States at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Saturday, has already rewritten the playbook on fan engagement and global interest in the sport.
On August 20, 2025, tournament organisers announced that a staggering 375,000 of the 470,000 available tickets for the 32 World Cup matches have already been sold—a figure that dwarfs previous tournaments by a considerable margin. To put that into perspective, this total is three times higher than the number of tickets sold for the last Women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2022, and more than ten times the 30,000 tickets purchased for the last English edition in 2010.
The excitement is palpable, and nowhere is it more evident than in the build-up to the final, scheduled for September 27, 2025, at London’s iconic Twickenham Stadium (also referred to as Allianz Stadium during the event). Organisers confirmed that the final has sold out, with approximately 82,000 supporters set to fill the stands, smashing the previous attendance record for a women's international rugby match. That record, an impressive 58,498, was set at Twickenham when England clinched the 2023 Six Nations Grand Slam by edging out France 38-33. The 2025 final will not only surpass this mark but will also eclipse the 66,000 crowd that attended the opening day of the women’s rugby sevens at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
For those familiar with the sport’s trajectory, these numbers are nothing short of astonishing. The 2010 final, held just across the road at the Twickenham Stoop, drew just over 13,000 fans as England narrowly defeated reigning champions New Zealand 13-10. Fast forward to 2022, and 42,579 spectators watched the Black Ferns edge the Red Roses 34-31 at Eden Park in Auckland. The scale of growth is clear: women's rugby has moved from the periphery to the main stage, and its audience is growing at a breakneck pace.
Rugby World Cup 2025 chair Gill Whitehead captured the spirit of the moment at a recent press conference, reflecting on the sport’s remarkable journey. “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.”
World Cup Managing Director Sarah Massey echoed Whitehead’s enthusiasm, stating, “We are 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. 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 be quick, because those remaining tickets are really selling up fast.”
And it’s not just the final that’s drawing crowds. More than 40,000 fans are expected to pack Sunderland's Stadium of Light for the opening match between England and the United States. The anticipation for this opening clash is high, especially as England embarks on a campaign that many hope will culminate in a third world title. The Red Roses have been in imperious form, winning 57 of their last 58 games—a stunning run blemished only by that agonising defeat to New Zealand in the 2022 final at Eden Park.
England’s dominance is clear, but the competition is fierce. New Zealand, the defending champions, are on the hunt for a record-extending seventh title, while France and Canada are widely regarded as the only teams with the depth and pedigree to mount a serious challenge to the Red Roses' supremacy. The stakes are even higher this year, as World Rugby confirmed that the four semi-finalists from this World Cup will automatically qualify for the 2029 edition, joining hosts Australia. This new incentive adds another layer of intensity to an already fiercely contested tournament.
The significance of these developments extends far beyond the pitch. The surge in ticket sales and global interest speaks to a broader transformation in women’s sports, as barriers continue to fall and new records are set with each passing year. The Women’s Rugby World Cup is now not just a showcase of elite athleticism, but a celebration of progress, resilience, and the growing appetite for women’s sport worldwide.
Organisers say that demand has been so high for the final and third-place playoff—the only matches to be played in London—that they could have sold out Twickenham two or three times over. The rest of the tournament will be staged at venues across England, ensuring that fans from all regions have a chance to be part of this historic moment.
Reflecting on the journey, it’s hard not to marvel at the contrast with previous editions. In 2010, England’s victory over New Zealand at the Twickenham Stoop felt like a watershed moment, but the modest crowd hinted at the work still to be done. By 2022, the atmosphere at Eden Park was electric, but the numbers still fell short of what the sport could truly achieve. Now, with 375,000 tickets already snapped up and the final set to draw a world-record crowd, women’s rugby is firmly in the spotlight.
For players, coaches, and fans alike, the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup represents the culmination of years of dedication and advocacy. As Whitehead so poignantly put it, the sight of women running out onto the hallowed turf of Twickenham, cheered on by tens of thousands, is a dream realised for countless players past and present.
As the opening whistle approaches, excitement continues to build. With England, New Zealand, France, and Canada all eyeing the ultimate prize, and with so much at stake both on and off the field, this promises to be a tournament for the ages. Fans lucky enough to have secured tickets are in for a treat, while the rest of the world will be watching closely as new chapters are written in the history of women’s rugby.
With the stage set for record crowds and unforgettable moments, all eyes turn to Sunderland this weekend as England and the United States get the action underway. The world is ready to celebrate women’s rugby like never before—and by all accounts, this is one event nobody will want to miss.
