Rain-soaked triumph as England’s Red Roses lift the Rugby World Cup
The euphoria that has defined the Women’s Rugby World Cup shone through the rain on Sunday as thousands gathered to celebrate England’s historic victory. Fans braved the weather at Battersea Power Station, echoing the electric mood from the Allianz Stadium where a world-record crowd of 81,885 watched England defeat Canada 33-13.
While a few players appeared bleary-eyed after a late-night celebration that stretched into the early hours, the energy remained high as the squad led sing-alongs and posed for selfies with supporters. Stage moments, crowd chants, and a shared sense of relief and pride united a nation cheering on the Red Roses.
Words of praise from the camp
England’s coach, John Mitchell, spoke with a quiet intensity about a group he described as “fun but driven,” marveling at what they have achieved on and off the field. “They are unreal to work with every day,” he said, underscoring the team’s togetherness and relentless pursuit of excellence.
Cross-sport pride and a turning point for women
The celebrations also featured high-profile figures from England’s wider sporting renaissance. Lionesses star Lucy Bronze and double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes joined in, with Bronze calling the moment “deja vu” and Holmes highlighting a summer that has showcased English women excelling across multiple sports, from football to track and field.
BBC figures echoed the national mood, with a peak audience of about 5.8 million viewers tuning in for the World Cup final. The game’s viewership set a record for the women’s game and marked it as the year’s most-watched rugby encounter.
From pipeline to podium: the RFU’s ambitions
In the wake of the triumph, Abby Dow urged authorities and governing bodies to sustain and expand the momentum. “We’ve got the ball rolling and I don’t want it to stop,” she said, emphasizing the role of the win in promoting grassroots rugby. Dow stressed that rugby should challenge stereotypes that it’s only a middle-class boys’ sport, calling for growth across the north and nationwide to mirror football’s recent surge in women’s participation.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has laid out ambitious goals: 100,000 women and girls actively playing by 2027, up from current levels, and a push toward a fully self-sustaining women’s game by 2031. Natasha Hunt echoed the call for broader investment, urging other nations to back their players and help elevate the sport to a level where close and competitive matches become the norm, not the exception.
Analyst and author Ali Donnelly reminded readers of the journey: from early 2000s crowds that were mostly family and friends to a new era where the world is watching. The “perfect storm” of a record-breaking World Cup and rising interest in women’s sport has created a blueprint for how nations can grow the game—if the investment and opportunity follow.
A moment to celebrate, and a plan to sustain it
As the crowd dispersed from a rain-dappled night, the mood remained clear: this wasn’t a one-off triumph but a turning point for women’s sport in England. The victory has united fans, inspired young players, and provided a platform to push for lasting change across communities and clubs. With supporters, players, and officials determined to translate victory into lasting participation, the coming years promise more than medals: a future where women’s rugby—and women’s sport more broadly—continues to grow from strength to strength.
Buy Monday’s newspaper in the UK and receive a 16-page supplement celebrating England’s Rugby World Cup win.
