Here’s why you should be watching the tournament
BY AIMEE BUTLER , IMAGE BY LORADO/GETTY IMAGES/CANVA
This year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup (RWC) has already set a precedent for the growth of women’s rugby both globally and nationally, with event organisers confirming on Tuesday that over 400,000 tickets have been sold. Ticket sales have surpassed prospective targets and confirmed that the tournament is guaranteed to be the best attended Women’s RWC. Ever.
Already dubbed an “era-defining” moment for women’s sports, England’s home-turf advantage presents a tangible opportunity for the Red Roses to follow in the footsteps of their footballing counterparts and bring home the trophy.
Speaking about the tournament, England and Chelsea striker Fran Kirby emphasised the importance of nationwide support, suggesting that without it, the Lionesses perhaps could not have achieved what they did in the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euros. Looking at the chance the Red Roses have at pulling off a similar feat, Kirby said, “It’s important to have that support behind you going into a major tournament and hopefully the country really gets behind the girls.”
And the support has been monumental so far, considering the competition only began over the weekend. With sellout crowds and an ever-growing online and television fan base, some even argued that the selected stadiums were not big enough. However, Women’s RWC directing manager Sarah Massey brushed these comments off, stating that the fact initial attendance and ticket targets have been exceeded already only complements the collective ambition to grow the women’s game and solidify the tournament’s defining place in championing/growing women’s rugby.
Packed-out stadiums and skyrocketing broadcast views together make a big statement: that women’s rugby is getting bigger, and the Women’s RWC could be the ultimate catalyst.
Women’s rugby faces many of the same problems that women’s football continues to face, such as lower salaries and a lack of investment and funding that is exacerbated by a lack of media coverage. Additionally, the physicality of rugby has enforced cultural stigmas that question a woman’s ability to excel in contact sports.
However, the 2025 Women’s RWC indicates a bright future for the sport, with tournament statistics already impressing. For example, the viewership of the opening weekend matches surpassed the overall viewership of the entire 2021 Women’s World Cup (4.6 million compared to 3.7 million). This could bring improved financial and media investment, as well as the spotlighting of influential women’s players as role models, which will encourage more women and girls to get involved in rugby.
While a successful tournament would most likely see substantial growth in participation in women’s rugby, the queer community also stands to benefit. The visual representation across the team rosters has been remarkable, with 10% of named squad players identifying as part of the queer community. This representation matters, showing that there is a place for LGBTQIA+ people in sports, and with the tournament already smashing all kinds of targets, the generational impact it could have on society stretches far.
There are fifty-four openly queer players confirmed to be participating in this year’s tournament, with 9 of these playing for England.
The rapid rise in the popularity of a sport with such a high number of out and proud players is positive, and if women’s rugby takes off in the UK similarly to women’s football, this could be a very promising step for queer visibility in both women’s sport and sport in general.
Speaking on LGBTQIA+ representation in rugby, England and Bristol Bears prop Hannah Botterman has praised the women’s game for its accepting and progressive atmosphere, stating, “as far as sports go, rugby is probably up there with better representation… The women’s game is where the men’s game definitely needs to be in terms of acceptance.” She also highlighted the impact this kind of visibility could have: “It’s about being seen, representing the community and being role models for young girls and boys.”
Many players, such as England and Saracens Women player Poppy Cleall, have also used the buzz behind the tournament to champion both the women’s game and what it represents. Cleall recently took part in Rugby Pride at Manchester’s Pride weekend, and in 2024, fellow England players Meg Jones and her partner Celia Quansah featured in a book together, titled Meg & Celia: Rugby Stars. Cleall stated, “It’s great to see players getting more confident” and “…little things like that go a long way in shining a light on the fact that rugby is an amazingly inclusive sport, and people can just be who they are.”
It is this kind of public support and unapologetic celebration of the presence of the LGBTQIA+ community in women’s rugby that will hopefully encourage more queer people to get involved in rugby and other sports. This is vital in a time when LGBTQIA+ people feel unwelcome and unsafe in many sports, fearing discrimination and hate. Women’s rugby fosters an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere, where players of any identity are celebrated and supported, and off the back of the Women’s RWC, the possibilities for making space for everyone in the sport are endless.
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