Women's International

Women’s World Cup final tipped to smash attendance record for women’s rugby match

by
The Rugby Paper Team
20 August 2025

Organisers of the Women’s Rugby World Cup expect next month’s Twickenham final to smash the attendance record for a women’s rugby match.

Tickets for the match on Saturday, September 27 have sold out, with approximately 82,000 supporters set to be at Allianz Stadium in south-west London.

The existing record for a women’s 15s fixture is 58,498, set as England clinched the 2023 Six Nations Grand Slam by beating France 38-33 at Twickenham.

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World Rugby chief of women's rugby Sally Horrox, World Rugby chair Brett Robinson, Women's RWC 2025 managing director Sarah Massey and Women's RWC 2025 competition director Yvonne Nolan during the tournament opening press conference — World Rugby chief of women’s rugby Sally Horrox, World Rugby chair Brett Robinson, Women’s RWC 2025 managing director Sarah Massey and Women’s RWC 2025 competition director Yvonne Nolan during the tournament opening press conference (Adam Davy/PA)

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, a crowd of 66,000 watched the opening day of the women’s rugby sevens programme at Stade de France.

Final Sellout

We understand World Rugby believes it could have sold out the World Cup final, which will be immediately preceded by the bronze medal match, two or three times over.

More than 375,000 of the 470,000 tickets available for the 32 World Cup games have been snapped up ahead of Friday’s opener between England and the United States at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.

Rugby World Cup 2025 chair Gill Whitehead said: “The final, we are very confident will be the most attended women’s rugby match in history, easily surpassing the 66,000 crowd that we saw in Paris 2024.

A general view of the Women's Rugby World Cup trophy ahead of the tournament opening press conference — Tickets for the World Cup final at Allianz Stadium have sold out (Adam Davy/PA)

“I started playing women’s rugby 30 years ago and the prospect of girls running out of the tunnel, playing to the three tiers of Allianz packed to the rafters is something perhaps I never hoped or thought I would see. It’s certainly what girls’ dreams are made of.”

England last staged the competition in 2010 when a crowd of just over 13,000 watched the hosts beat current reigning champions New Zealand 13-10 in the final at Twickenham Stoop.

Ticket Sales

Rugby World Cup 2025 managing director Sarah Massey said total ticket sales have already surpassed initial targets and are three times the number bought at the 2021 tournament in New Zealand, which took place a year later than planned due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sarah Massey at a press conference — Massey says the tournament will be “the biggest global celebration of women’s rugby that we have ever seen” (Adam Davy/PA)

A crowd of 42,579 watched the Black Ferns claim the trophy in 2022 by defeating the Reds Roses 34-31 at Eden Park in Auckland.

“We’re ready to break records in attendances, viewership and engagement,” Massey said.

“This is going to be the biggest global celebration of women’s rugby that we have ever seen.

“Our message to fans is, don’t miss out. This is going to be unmissable. You’re going to see thrilling action, electric atmospheres, and those remaining tickets are really selling fast.”