The stadiums have been confirmed for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup’s opening and closing matches. The tournament will take place across England, with the Red Roses amongst the favourites as the number one ranked team in the world.
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The Stadium of Light, home to Sunderland Football Club, will host the opening match of the competition on August 22nd 2025. This follows on from England playing in the North East, after opening their 2023 Women’s Six Nations campaign at Newcastle Falcons’ Kingston Park. This match witnessed an emotional career send off to England’s all-time leading appearence holder Sarah Hunter, who spoke at today’s World Rugby event regarding the announcement.
World Rugby also confirmed that Twickenham Stadium will host the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup Final, on Saturday September 27th 2025. Hunter is confident that after England brought in record attendance figures for a women’s rugby match during the latest Women’s Six Nations (58,498), they can go one better and sell out ‘HQ’ for the finale.
Speaking at the event, Hunter said: “It’s been a real privilege to be part of today’s announcement of the opening and closing venues of Rugby World Cup 2025 and to meet so many talented rugby players from the North East.
“The Red Roses opening game of the tournament at the Stadium of Light will be an amazing experience for the players and fans and having witnessed the electric atmosphere of almost sixty thousand watching the Red Roses at Twickenham earlier this year, I’ve every confidence it will sell out for the final.”
Today, 60 young women’s and girls’ players from Sunderland got the unique opportunity to be coached by Red Roses’ Transition Coach Hunter at the Stadium of Light. This marked the occasion, as the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup looks to be an “era-defining tournament that will set new standards, attract new audiences and provide an exciting catalyst to nationwide and global rugby growth.”
The additional six stadiums that have been selected to host matches throughout the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup include Ashton Gate (Bristol), Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium (Brighton), Franklin’s Gardens (Northampton), Sandy Park (Exeter) Salford Community Stadium (Salford) and York Community Stadium (York).
Harlequins’ Yorkshire-born England star Ellie Kildunne, said to the 2025 WRWC website: “We’re really excited to bring rugby to York Community Stadium in 2025. As a Yorkshire girl, I’m looking forward to international rugby coming to the county and helping the game grow in the region.”
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 will be a generational moment for rugby. The biggest, most accessible and most widely-viewed, its unstoppable momentum will reach, engage and inspire new audiences in ways that rugby events have not done before.
“The selection of Sunderland for the opening match underscores that mission. We want this to be a sports event that everyone is talking about, that everyone wants to be a part of and one that inspires young people to be a part of.”
Managing Director, Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, Sarah Massey who was also present at the event, and added: “We’ve been working in collaboration with our cities and venues teams to engage with the local communities and maximise opportunities to give them an unforgettable and inclusive fan experience.
“This is the era of women’s sport and women’s rugby will make its biggest, boldest statement in 2025. With tickets going on sale next year, our message to rugby, sport and major event fans is mark your diaries now for the event of 2025. It will be massive.”
RFU Executive Director of Rugby Development and Rugby World Cup 2025 Board Member, Steve Grainger also said: “Both the Stadium of Light and Twickenham Stadium, as hosts of the opening and closing matches, along with the other six tournament venues evidences the RFU’s tournament goal of boosting development of the sport right around the country and achieving our ambition to have 100,000 female players by 2027.
“To drive forward this work we are delighted to be working closely with Sport England, the UK Government and other organisations to create a transformational legacy programme. We are very grateful to Government for committing funding to this transformational tournament.”
Also in attendance in Sunderland was Government Sports Minister, Stuart Andrew who added: “Sunderland’s Stadium of Light will provide the perfect opening act for what is set to be a record-breaking tournament of women’s rugby.
“The Government is a proud supporter of Rugby World Cup 2025, which will inspire women and girls all over the country to pick up a ball and follow in the footsteps of their heroes.”
Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Graeme Miller said: “It’s incredibly exciting for Sunderland to be playing host to the opening game of the Women’s Rugby World Cup at the Stadium of Light.
“The last few years have seen a massive surge of interest in women’s rugby and women’s sport in general, so having the opportunity to cheer on the Red Roses in a World Cup match so close to home is brilliant news for sports fans across the North East.
“It’s also a wonderful opportunity for our city and our region to shine on the international stage and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming fans from across the world when the biggest ever celebration of women’s rugby kicks off in Sunderland in August 2025.”
NIGEL OWENS DREAM XV:
In his remarkable lineup, Owens features three Welsh luminaries – Alun Wyn Jones, Shane Williams, and Gethin Jenkins. Additionally, he acknowledges the contributions of Lee Byrne, Dwayne Peel, and Leigh Halfpenny to the sport.
Notably, a striking facet of Owens’ chosen players is their collective leadership qualities, with the majority of the selected individuals having served as captains for their respective nations.
Fullback: Israel Folau (Australia)
Owens said: “For me, it’s nip and tuck between Halfpenny and Folau, next to nothing to choose between them. Leigh is brilliant because under the high ball and with his kicking at goal under pressure. He may not always break the line when running but puts his body on the line in defence and is a top-notch match-winner.
“But I go for Folau – only just, I should stress – because of his ability to seemingly beat his man every time he gets the ball in his hand. He’s such an exciting player and like Leigh he is one of the best under the high ball.
“It’s a toss of a coin for me… and it’s come down in Folau’s favour.”
Winger: Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Owens said: “How can you fail to be impressed when watching Hogg play. He’s so exciting as he burst into that line and, of course, was named Six Nations player of the tournament.
“I know he’s a full-back for Scotland, but he is so quick and direct he could easily play on the wing. He reminds me a bit of Shane Williams with some of the things he does.
“When you see who is on the other wing in my team, you’ll see how they would work brilliantly in tandem.”
Outside-centre: Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
Owens said: “Not only is he one of the greatest centres in the history of rugby union but he’s a fantastic man off the field as well. O’Driscoll has been a wonderful ambassador for the sport and a real leader. He always respected referees and set the right example for others to follow.
“A legend of the game who conducted himself superbly, on and off the pitch.”
Inside-centre: Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand)
Owens said: “He’s another brilliant player and after every game, win or lose, he would come up and give me a hug. Ma’a has always found time at after-match functions or at breakfast if we’ve been staying at the same hotel to come over and have a chat.
“What a player, mind, too. One of the stalwarts of the New Zealand side for so many years.”
Winger: Shane Williams (Wales)
Owens said: “When people ask me who is the best player I have refereed it’s pretty much an impossible task to pick one because I’ve been lucky enough to take charge of so many greats.
“But if I’m pushed, I would pick Shane for what he achieved after coming from football at 17 or 18 years of age.
“He was in the mould of Gerald Davies in how he left defenders gasping for air as he beat them with those dazzling sidesteps. Nobody would fancy defending against a back three of Shane, Hogg and Folau, I can tell you that.”