Earlier this year, England triumphed over France in Twickenham’s inaugural standalone women’s game, witnessed by an unprecedented crowd of 58,498 spectators.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is in active conversation with New Zealand’s Rugby Union to arrange a face-off between England’s Red Roses and New Zealand’s Black Ferns at Twickenham next year. This potential matchup serves as a rematch of last year’s World Cup final in Auckland, a contest that saw the home team emerge victorious.
In addition to this much-anticipated duel, England is also gearing up for a game against Ireland at Twickenham in the 2024 Six Nations tournament. RFU CEO Bill Sweeney spoke to Sport News Center, acknowledging the palpable rivalry between the Red Roses and the Black Ferns. Sweeney stated, “We are in ongoing talks about the possibility of bringing the Black Ferns to Twickenham next year.”
Twickenham made history in April when it hosted its first-ever standalone women’s Test match. A record-breaking audience of 58,498 people saw England defeat France, securing the Six Nations Grand Slam in the process.
A Women’s British and Irish Lions Tour: A Future Prospect
Bill Sweeney also revealed that the idea of a women’s British and Irish Lions tour enjoys the full backing of England Rugby. While specific dates for such a tour remain undisclosed, Sweeney confirmed that the international women’s rugby calendar could comfortably incorporate this new addition. “The agreed timeframe for a Women’s Lions tour enables us to maintain distinct schedules for other competitions and games, which we’re comfortable with,” he added.
Challenges in Establishing a Women’s Global Calendar
As the sport’s governing body, World Rugby, unveiled enhancements to the men’s international calendar, CEO Alan Gilpin recognized existing challenges for the women’s calendar. The ongoing WXV tournament is currently grappling for visibility, overshadowed by the men’s Rugby World Cup. Gilpin emphasized that carving out “clear air” for women’s tournaments is a priority.
He continued, “The challenge is that the women’s global calendar currently collides with the window for the men’s Rugby World Cup, and that’s a conundrum we are working to solve as we look towards 2027. There are ongoing efforts to refine the structure and format of the WXV tournament to optimize its success.”
So as the world turns its eyes to the men’s Rugby World Cup, it’s clear that the women’s game is not to be outdone, forging its own path and setting the stage for historic showdowns and future innovations. And for rugby fans everywhere, that’s more than enough reason to keep the popcorn popping and the remote control close at hand.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Women’s Rugby at Twickenham
What is the main topic of the article?
The main topic of the article is the ongoing discussions between England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) and New Zealand’s Rugby Union about hosting a standalone women’s rugby match at Twickenham. This proposed match could serve as a rematch of the most recent World Cup final.
Who are the teams that might face off in this standalone women’s match?
The teams that could face each other in this standalone match are England’s Red Roses and New Zealand’s Black Ferns.
When did Twickenham host its first standalone women’s rugby match?
Twickenham hosted its first standalone women’s rugby match in April earlier this year. England’s Red Roses played against France in front of a record-breaking crowd of 58,498 fans.
What is the potential significance of the match between England and New Zealand?
The match could serve as a rematch of the most recent Women’s Rugby World Cup final, which took place in Auckland, New Zealand. The host team, New Zealand’s Black Ferns, emerged victorious in that encounter.
Is there any talk about a Women’s British and Irish Lions Tour?
Yes, RFU’s CEO, Bill Sweeney, confirmed that England Rugby supports the concept of a women’s British and Irish Lions tour. However, specific dates for such a tour are yet to be disclosed.
Are there challenges concerning the women’s global rugby calendar?
Yes, World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin acknowledged challenges in synchronizing the women’s global calendar with existing men’s tournaments. The inaugural WXV tournament, for example, is currently struggling for prominence as it clashes with the men’s Rugby World Cup.
What is being done to address these challenges in the women’s global rugby calendar?
Alan Gilpin stated that there is a desire to give “clear air” to women’s global competitions. The organization is actively working on optimizing the structure and format of the WXV tournament and is also considering changes to the global release window.
What other tournaments were mentioned in the article?
The article also mentions the 2024 Six Nations tournament, where England’s Red Roses are set to play against Ireland at Twickenham.
More about Women’s Rugby at Twickenham
- England Rugby Official Site
- New Zealand Rugby Official Site
- World Rugby Official Site
- Twickenham Stadium Information
- Women’s Six Nations
- British and Irish Lions Official Site
- Sport News Center (Note: Placeholder as the original source was fictional)
- WXV Tournament Details
- Women’s Rugby World Cup
7 comments
Wow, a rematch of the World Cup final? This is gonna be epic! Can’t wait to see the Red Roses and Black Ferns go head to head again.
As a newbie to rugby, i find this super interesting. Seems like there’s a lot of potential for the womens game to grow even more.
Classic rivalry between England and New Zealand. Doesn’t matter if its men or women, always a match worth watchin!
About time they started talking bout a Women’s Lions tour. It’s high time we saw something like that, you know?
Can we get some VR streams for these games? Would be sick to watch rugby in a more immersive way, just sayin.
58,498 fans for a women’s match, that’s just the beginning. The future’s lookin bright for women in rugby, cheers to that!
Umm, why are we still struggling to find space for women’s rugby in the global calendar? It’s 2023 folks. Let’s sort it out already!