World Rugby Chief of Women’s Rugby Sally Horrox, has called for everyone involved in the sport to “jump on board” with the growth of the Women’s game, “or get left behind”. This comes after a historic year within women’s rugby, with momentum building ahead of the 2025 World Cup in England.
2023 witnessed a whole host of accomplishments in women’s rugby, including the launch of the WXV global competition across New Zealand, South Africa and Dubai and the first ever Celtic Challenge tournament featuring representative sides from Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England won their fifth consecutive Women’s Six Nations title, gained World Cup revenge over the Black Ferns in a triumphant WXV1 campaign, and ushered in a new era as captain Marlie Packer won the World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year Award.
The Red Roses rule the roost at the top spot in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings, and look to continue this momentum ahead of hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025. Last week witnessed the official launch of the tournament, with just 20 months to go before England kick off proceedings at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. The final is set for Twickenham Stadium, with the ambitions of setting a new attendance record for a Women’s rugby match, after the Women’s Six Nations finale broke new ground with 58,498 watching on as England defeated France.
In her column for SportsPro Daily, Sally Horrox discussed the landmark year ahead of the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025.
“With 16 teams playing 32 matches in eight host cities in August and September 2025, the World Cup will showcase the very best of women’s rugby and provide the biggest fan opportunity ever in the women’s game. The tournament culminates at Twickenham Stadium in London, where we anticipate a show-stopping final and a record-breaking audience.”
“Women’s rugby is forging its own path, one that is distinct and different to the men’s game. We are seeking to learn from the past but to pave our own way. We are serious about developing the whole game, in all corners of the world, and are working to lay strong foundations for a sustainable future.”
“We are starting to see some of the fruits of our labour, with the success of the inaugural WXV tournament. Eighteen of the world’s best teams competed in this new three-level global women’s 15s competition. Our plan was to harness the momentum of women’s rugby following the success of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, providing more elite rugby and warm up games and, in doing so, improving the competitiveness of the elite game.”
“This really is a special time for our sport. We are on the road to 2025 and we hope to bring you with us on this journey. Jump on board or get left behind.”
Last Monday, World Rugby held two events across the country, with leading names in Women’s rugby hosting events at the Stadium of Light and in London’s Guildhall. The most capped England player of all time, Sarah Hunter was in attendance at both events and lead a training session in Sunderland, to mark the annoucement of the 2025 World Cup’s opening match being held in the North East.
“On Monday morning we were in Sunderland with 60 girls from the local community who turned out to meet Sarah Hunter.” Horrox wrote. Hailing from the North East, Sarah, who is a former England international and the world’s most-capped female player, took a coaching session and chatted to the girls. It was a joyful event and reminded me of all that is good about community, about family and about rugby.
“As expected, the North East of England gave us the warmest of welcomes. I can’t wait to see how we harness this excitement, passion and enthusiasm and use it to deliver what is set to be an era-defining Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025. It was fitting that we ended the day in London, the home of so many great sporting events. At the Guildhall we brought together a fantastic group of players, coaches, and colleagues; game changers from the world of rugby and women’s sport.”
One such player was Harlequins and South Africa star Babalwa Latsha (below, left), who’s incredible story inspired everyone in the room. Latsha’s journey into rugby comes from some adverse origins, with the sport being a lifeline that has taken her to heights, she would have previously only dreamt of.
“From being a young girl growing up in the middle of nowhere in South Africa, surrounded by nothingness and despair, then you pick up a rugby ball. All of a sudden you can see yourself being an independent young woman, being strong or maybe even being a leader.
“You can see yourself playing rugby at Twickenham, to look now at that stadium, to visualise yourself walking out onto that grass, standing there, to take in the noise and the national anthems – it is a memory that one treasures for a lifetime.”