The Women's Rugby World Cup began with a spectacular party in Sunderland, as England's Red Roses kicked off their campaign with a dominant 10-try victory over the USA. The atmosphere at the Stadium of Light and the surrounding fan zone demonstrated just how far the women's game has come since the tournament was last held in England in 2010.
Thousands of fans gathered in Keel Square for a carnival parade and live music before the match, with the fan zone funded by a £500,000 investment from the North East Combined Authority. The event was part of a wider effort to boost women's rugby in the region, where there is no elite women's club and players often have to travel south to continue their careers.
England's older players, including Marlie Packer and Emily Scarratt, took time to soak in the occasion before the warm-up, reflecting on how much the sport has grown. The crowd for the opening game exceeded the total attendance for the entire 2010 tournament, which was played at Surrey Sports Park in front of fewer than 3,000 people.
On the pitch, England settled any nerves with two early maul tries, including one from Sadia Kabeya. A 10-minute period late in the first half, when the USA's Alev Kelter was in the sin-bin, proved decisive as England scored 14 points to take a 21-point lead. Tries from Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne helped extend the advantage, with the final score reaching 10 tries to nil.
The victory was a statement of intent from the Red Roses, who now face a tournament with unprecedented attention and expectation. The RFU has pledged to invest Impact 25 money in the north-east over the next decade, aiming to build on the enthusiasm generated by the opening weekend.
