Rugby fans, mark your calendars and brace yourselves for what promises to be a truly historic moment in women’s sports. The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup is set to shatter records and expectations, with Twickenham Stadium poised to host the largest crowd ever assembled for a women’s rugby match. On Saturday, September 27, more than 80,000 spectators are expected to fill every seat in the iconic London venue for the tournament’s grand finale—a feat that tournament organizers had long dreamed of achieving but can now officially celebrate before the first whistle has even blown.
It’s not just the final that’s making headlines. The tournament, which kicks off this Friday, August 22, at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light with hosts and favorites England taking on the United States, has already sold more than 375,000 tickets across 32 matches and eight venues. That’s a staggering three times the number of tickets sold for the last Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, where total attendance was just 140,000. Sarah Massey, the tournament’s managing director, summed up the mood: “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.”
The numbers tell a story of remarkable growth. The previous record attendance for a stand-alone women’s rugby match was set at last year’s Olympic Sevens final in Paris, where 66,000 fans packed the Stade de France. For 15-a-side matches, the record stood at 58,948, set at Twickenham during the 2023 Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider between England and France. Now, with Twickenham’s 82,000-seat capacity sold out for the final, the bar is being raised to an entirely new level. “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,” said Gill Whitehead, chair of Rugby World Cup 2025.
For Whitehead and many others in the women’s rugby community, this moment is deeply personal. Reflecting on how far the sport has come, she recalled: “The last time England hosted the Women's Rugby World Cup, the girls played 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 Twickenham 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.”
The journey to this point has not been without its challenges. England’s Red Roses have been a dominant force in women’s rugby, losing only once in their past 58 matches—a heartbreaker against New Zealand in the Covid-delayed 2022 World Cup final. Yet, despite their impressive record, the Red Roses have lost five of the last six World Cup finals to the Black Ferns, with their most recent global 15-a-side title coming in 2014 when they defeated Canada. That history has only fueled the anticipation for this year’s tournament, as England seeks redemption on home soil and hopes to finally reclaim the crown in front of a record-breaking crowd.
The growth of women’s rugby in England and beyond is evident not just in ticket sales, but in the expanding footprint of the tournament itself. World Rugby has moved away from the limited hosting model used in New Zealand, where matches were confined to just three venues. For the 2025 edition, eight cities—Brighton, Bristol, Exeter, Northampton, Salford, York, Sunderland, and London—will play host, ensuring that 90% of England’s population is within a two-hour drive of a match. This accessibility has played a crucial role in the tournament’s soaring popularity, making it easier than ever for fans to be part of the action.
The opening fixture between England and the United States at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light is expected to draw over 40,000 fans, with hopes that the stadium will be filled to capacity. It’s a fitting start for a tournament that’s already rewriting the record books. “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,” Massey said. “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.”
The Red Roses have been drawing big crowds even outside of World Cup competition. In 2024, more than 48,000 fans watched England defeat Ireland at Twickenham, and another 41,523 turned out for a win over New Zealand. The 2021 Rugby World Cup final, where England narrowly lost to New Zealand 34-31, was played in front of 42,579 at Eden Park—a far cry from the numbers expected this year in London.
The tournament’s impact will extend beyond the pitch. World Rugby has confirmed that the four semi-finalists from this World Cup will automatically qualify for the 2029 edition, joining hosts Australia. This move is designed to reward excellence and ensure that the very best teams continue to drive the sport forward on the global stage.
For players, coaches, and fans alike, the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup is more than just a competition—it’s a celebration of how far women’s rugby has come and a bold statement about where it’s headed. The sold-out final at Twickenham is a testament to the passion, perseverance, and progress of everyone involved in the women’s game. “The prospect of the girls running out of the tunnel to the three tiers of a packed Allianz Stadium is something I never hoped or thought I would see. It is what girls' dreams are made of,” Whitehead said, her words echoing the sentiment of a generation that has seen the sport rise from the shadows to the spotlight.
As the tournament prepares to kick off, anticipation is building—not just for the rugby itself, but for the electric atmosphere, the sense of history in the making, and the promise of unforgettable moments. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a newcomer to the sport, one thing is clear: this Women’s Rugby World Cup is going to be unmissable. With records already tumbling and excitement at a fever pitch, all eyes will be on Twickenham come September 27. The countdown is on, and the world is watching as women’s rugby takes center stage like never before.
With the stage set and history beckoning, the only question left is: who will rise to the occasion and seize their moment in front of a record-breaking crowd? Rugby’s biggest celebration is about to begin, and it’s anyone’s game.
