Hosts England will kick off their campaign with a match at the Stadium of Light to open the competition
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00:00 are going to host the opening game, then it's going to be the Red Roses that will play here
00:06 on the opening game of the Rugby World Cup in 2025. So Sunderland, you will be the host
00:11 of the Red Roses' first game in that World Cup.
00:14 [Applause]
00:21 So I'm Sarah Massey and I am the Managing Director for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025.
00:28 And why have we chosen Sunderland?
00:30 Well, Sunderland is going to be an amazing place to kick off this tournament. It's just
00:35 such a perfect start for us. Northeast, passionate sports fans, amazing stadium which we're going
00:41 to fill on the 22nd of August 2025. And we couldn't ask for more. We've been working
00:48 really closely with Sunderland City Council, with Sunderland Football Club, everybody at
00:52 Stadium of Light. They are absolutely engaged. We're all really positive about what we can
00:56 achieve and what an amazing electric atmosphere we can create in 20 months' time.
01:01 And how many people are you expecting to come to the city?
01:04 Well, hopefully we are expecting many people to come to the city, not just to experience
01:08 and be here as a fan in the stadium, but also to experience what will happen in the city
01:12 around it as well. So, working really closely with the City Council again to see what we
01:17 can bring into the city from a fan experience point of view, so they can experience things
01:22 in the city and also experience the event.
01:25 Sunderland City Council Leader, Councillor Graham Miller is here at Stadium of Light
01:30 for the launch of the Women's Rugby World Cup, which is coming to Sunderland in 2025.
01:34 How big is this going to be for the city?
01:36 It will be a massive event for the city. What we have on the 22nd of August 2025 is England
01:43 kicking off the Women's Rugby World Cup at the Stadium of Light. And we are one of the
01:48 eight stadia that will be hosting the event in England that year.
01:52 And what is it going to mean for the profile of the city economically?
01:56 For the profile of the city, it will enhance it again. I think it shows that Sunderland
02:00 is now seen as a city that can host global events and global venues. We have had the
02:07 football here in England, Scotland in the Nations Cup for the women and this is adding
02:12 to it. So, economically, it will be millions of pounds out of the local economy over the
02:18 years.
02:25 Charlotte Purvis is a coach with Houghton Rugby Club. What is it going to mean in terms
02:31 of inspiration for the next generation of players do you think?
02:34 This is an absolutely huge opportunity, especially to have it up here in the North East. We have
02:40 produced some excellent talent, Sarah Hunt is here with us today and it is an absolute
02:45 inspiration for not only for her to speak to the girls but also they have got a train
02:50 alongside her, the most capped England player in the history of rugby. So it is an absolute
02:56 inspiration for her to be here and to have it in Sunderland and where it is going to
03:00 be the second biggest venue after Twickenham. It is a huge moment for us and hopefully it
03:05 gets the North East put on the map finally for rugby and hopefully it really inspires
03:10 these girls to try and push to the next level, even though I know more than one or two.
03:15 [BLANK_AUDIO]