The biggest World Cup looms

SPOTLIGHT: The World Cup 2025, which kicks off at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on Friday, August 22 and runs until September 27, 2025, is set to be the biggest ever.

The event is generating record demand, with more than 100,000 tickets requested in just the first week of the application phase adding to the 130,000 tickets already sold in the presale.

Across the nation, host locations have been celebrating this era-defining tournament arriving in their city – from the iconic waterways of York, to the renaming of train stations in Bristol and Exeter to the transformation of Brighton Beach takeover.

The ticket application window kicked off in York on the River Ouse with England rugby legend Maggie Alphonsi and Yorkshire-born Jodie Ounsley, ‘Fury’ from Gladiators and England sevens’ first deaf female rugby player, alongside a host of local England, South Africa and Ireland fans.

In Exeter, the train station Exeter St Davids was renamed ExeTRY St Davids in honour of the World Cup arriving there next year. Not to be outdone, in Bristol the station Bristol Temple Meads was renamed Bristol Temple MAUL. Brighton Beach was also transformed into ‘Brighton Breach’ in honour of England international and local, Jess Breach to celebrate the return of rugby to Brighton after the city hosted men’s World Cup matches in 2015.

Several other England rugby players past and present have also been calling for people not to miss out on being part of this historic event next year, including Shaunagh Brown, Rachael Burford, Abbie Ward and Hannah Botterman encouraging locals to get involved and be a part of history in the making.

Shaunagh Brown relives that epic Abby Dow try from the #RWC2021 semi-final 🤩

Don’t miss out on tickets for the #RWC2025 knock-out matches

📅 13-14, 19-20 September 2025
🏟️ Sandy Park, Exeter and Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol
🎟️ Apply for tickets now https://t.co/LUOKWYoCGw pic.twitter.com/UH3RVTS5N6

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— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 13, 2024

World Cup 2014 winner Alphonsi is one of those calling for fans to apply for tickets quickly commenting: “It’s incredibly exciting to be able to have a global event like this come back to England.

“This upcoming tournament has so much potential to deliver a positive wider impact. 2025 will see the biggest and best Women’s World Cup ever – it’s going to be the tournament you don’t want to miss out on next year.”

World Cup 2025 Managing Director Sarah Massey, added: “It has been brilliant to work with various host locations in celebrating the arrival of World Cup 2025 and with the recent match schedule announcement revealing the thrilling matchups we can expect next year, we’re seeing a lot of excitement building across local communities and beyond.”

MP UK Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth Stephanie Peacock said “We can’t wait to welcome the Women’s Rugby World Cup to England in 2025. The event is set to be a generational moment for rugby and for women’s sport in this country.

“The record-setting ticket applications show the huge appetite for women’s sport in the UK and this Government is committed to supporting women and girls to play rugby, or whatever sport they choose.”

*NOTE: Fans will have until 11.00 GMT on Tuesday, November 19 to select the matches and price categories they want to apply for via tickets.rugbyworldcup.com, with applicants being notified of the results from Monday, December 2.

Fans will need to enter their payment card details as part of their ticket application, however, payment cards will only be charged after December 2, 2024 if an application has been successful. Only one application per email address is allowed, ensuring a fair process for all.

Don’t miss out – ticket applications for all matches can be submitted until 11.00 GMT on November 19, 2024, via tickets.rugbyworldcup.com.