"World Cup Bounce" - PWR witnesses major attendance increase for opening round of season

Tuesday, 28 October 2025 at 10:05

byTom Sansom

The ‘World Cup Bounce’ was in full effect across rugby stadiums this past weekend as the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) season kicked off, with clubs reporting a dramatic rise in fan attendance for the opening round of the 2025/26 campaign.

Across the league, attendances soared by a remarkable 183% compared to the first round of the 2024/25 season. The season began on Friday with Harlequins hosting Loughborough Lightning at the Twickenham Stoop, drawing just shy of 3,000 fans — a 239% increase on the same fixture last season. A significant portion of the crowd were new to women’s rugby, attending their first-ever match.

Saturday saw Ealing Trailfinders welcome Exeter, recording a 32% rise in attendance over last year’s fixture and a 53% increase on Trailfinders’ average attendance in 2024/25. Later that evening, Sale Sharks hosted Leicester Tigers in front of a sold-out Morson Stadium (Heywood Road) for the first time.

Sunday’s action featured Gloucester against Saracens, attracting over 4,200 spectators — a 212% rise on the previous year’s equivalent game. Fans were treated not only to an important victory but also the chance to take photos with the World Cup trophy.

PWR Executive Chair Genevieve Shore said: "It is incredibly exciting to see the growth in attendances across the league in the opening round. Every stadium welcomed new fans into the PWR family this weekend, and we can't wait to watch them all become regulars at PWR games this season.

The quality of our rugby in the PWR is beyond question and we're happy with the increasing recognition that this is the best league in the world. I am so proud when I hear of players from all over the world wanting to play in the PWR. Our job now is to not take our foot off the gas, to continue improving and to make sure we remain the frontrunner in women's club rugby.

This is a long-term project we are building with our fans and our athletes together. Every single person who came to a game this past weekend, or watched on a screen, is part of the movement. They stand alongside other fans and players alike, as we continue to lay the foundations of the women's game in this country.

Thank you to all the PWR fans, both old and new, and we can't wait to see you again this weekend wherever you're watching from."

With such a strong start to the season, the PWR looks set to build on this momentum, welcoming both new and returning fans to enjoy high-quality women’s rugby throughout 2025/26.