The Women’s Rugby World Cup is fast approaching. With momentum in the world of women’s sports picking up speed, not only will the competition be an exciting watch, but it’s also set to have a significant impact on the future of women’s sports.
In this article, we’ll give you a full rundown of the tournament, including when and where it will be held, who to watch, and how it could influence the next generation of women in sports.
When and Where is the Women’s Rugby World Cup?
This year, the Women’s Rugby World Cup will take place in England and will commence on August 22. The tournament will conclude with a grand finale at the Allianz Stadium on September 27.
The tournament will be held across the country, with eight venues hosting matches. The pool matches will be at Brighton, Bristol, Exeter, London, Manchester, Northampton, Sunderland, and York.
Who to Watch: The Red Roses
Representing England is the Red Roses, who are currently the number one ranked team in the world. They will be going against the USA, Samoa, and Australia in the pool stages.
So far, the team have been dominating the Women’s Six Nations, so despite mixed success in the RWC before – losing the last two finals to the Black Ferns – things are looking positive for the team this time around.
That said, they’ll be under an immense amount of pressure to perform in front of their home crowd and the vast majority of the team have no experience winning the tournament. So, tensions will likely be high as the team enters the latter stages of the competition.
Players to Watch
The Red Roses feature several stand out players. One notable player is 25-year-old Fullback Ellie Kildunne, who was crowned last year’s World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year. With 48 caps under her belt, she has a wealth of experience and there’s no doubt she’ll play a key role in their campaign.
There are also plenty of fresh faces in the squad to look out for, including Simi Pam, Charlotte Fray, Abi Burton, Flo Robinson, and Jade Shekells – all of whom have no caps.
How Will This Year’s Rugby World Cup Influence Women’s Rugby in the Future?
Women’s sport has had a notable increase in interest in recent years, and rugby in particular has seen a significant surge in attention. The 2021 Rugby World Cup had a sell out crowd for the final and the total attendance over the course of the tournament was 150,179. This was a huge leap compared to the 2017 tournament, which had a total attendance figure of 45,412.
220,000 tickers have already been sold for this year’s edition, so it’s set to be a record breaking tournament for women’s rugby. There are high hopes that this Rugby World Cup will continue to generate interest for women’s sport all over the world.
Will You Be Watching?
BBC Sport will be broadcasting coverage of the tournament and matches will also be available live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. Will you be tuning in to see how the Red Roses perform on home soil?
You might also enjoy reading RCW Experiences’ matchday hospitality for women’s rugby world cup/
