Ticket sales for the Women’s Rugby World Cup have more than tripled compared to the previous tournament in New Zealand, with over 440,000 tickets sold. The final between England and Canada at Twickenham on Saturday is sold out, with more than 80,000 fans expected, setting a new attendance record for a women's rugby match.
Tournament managing director Sarah Massey described the milestone as extraordinary, surpassing original objectives. The previous attendance record of 58,498 was set during the 2023 Six Nations match between England and France. Television viewership also surged, with a peak of 3.1 million watching England’s semi-final against France on BBC One.
England and Canada have showcased rapid ruck speed, completing 45% of rucks in under two seconds, faster than the average men's Test rugby. Tournament director Yvonne Nolan noted a significant jump in standards compared to the 2022 tournament, where Canada and England had much lower percentages.
Nominations for the women’s 15s player of the year include England centre Meg Jones, Canada lock Sophie de Goede, and New Zealand back-row Jorja Miller. Miller is also nominated for breakthrough player of the year alongside Braxton Sorensen-McGee and Fiji’s Josifini Neihamu. Winners will be announced at the final.
