Just days after the Lionesses played in the final of the football World Cup, another global women’s tournament takes centre stage.
And York will be a part of it!
The city has been chosen as a co-host and venue for the Rugby World Cup 2025.
World Rugby and the English Rugby Football Union have confirmed that York will be one of the host cities and venues for the biggest-ever celebration of women’s rugby.
For the first time ever, the elite women’s rugby tournament will be hosted across eight venues around the country with 16 teams competing to be crowned world champions.
The Rugby World Cup 2025 will kick off two years today – 22 August – with the final on 27 September, and promises ‘a family-focused festival of rugby’.
These are the host cities and venues, chosen after a competitive selection process:
- Brighton and Hove – Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium
- Bristol – Ashton Gate
- Exeter – Sandy Park
- London – Twickenham Stadium
- Manchester – Salford Community Stadium
- Northampton – Franklin’s Gardens
- Sunderland – Stadium of Light
- York – York Community Stadium.
The full match schedule and ticketing details will be announced next year.
Canada, England, France and New Zealand have already qualified for Rugby World Cup 2025 after finishing in the top four of RWC 2021.
The remaining positions will be filled via World Rugby’s new women’s international 15s tournament, WXV, and regional competitions in 2024.
Today’s news comes after York successfully hosted eight women’s games in the Rugby League World Cup last year.
What they said
City of York Council leader Cllr Claire Douglas said: “I want to thank all the partners involved in our successful bid to host the Women’s Rugby Union World Cup. It is fantastic that once again York will play host to a world cup, with world-class female athletes living and playing in the city for a number of weeks.”
MD of Make It York Sarah Loftus said: “We are absolutely delighted that York has been chosen as one of the host cities for the Rugby World Cup in 2025, and that we’ll be welcoming such fantastic international teams to our city for the tournament. This will be such a key event in the city’s calendar and really showcase York on the international stage with a sport that is forever growing in popularity.”
Glen Coultish, York RUFC Junior Chairman, said: “York Rugby Union are delighted to be playing a part in the Women’s Rugby Union World Cup. The timing is perfect as this season we have dedicated to growing the girls section to 80 plus girl players. The opportunity to see world cup squads play and train is fantastic for the whole club.”
Cat Tottie, manager at York RI Women, said: “Women’s rugby has grown fast in recent years – when the Roses packed out Twickenham last year we proved the sport wasn’t just for the boys.
“As someone who didn’t start playing until I was an adult, I hope the Rugby World Cup coming to England will inspire a new generation of girls to look at our amazing sport and think – I want to get on pitch and be just as strong and fast as them.
“From grassroots teams to Premiership, the community that comes with women’s rugby is infectious, and there is no better time to start playing than now. And anything you can do to plug girls and women to start playing at York RI would be fab – we are recruiting now!”