England’s grand slam-winning players believe they will be attracting sell-out crowds to Twickenham within the next two years after hosting a world-record attendance for a women’s rugby fixture. Almost 60,000 fans attended the Red Roses’ 38-33 victory over France and the popularity of the women’s game is expected to increase ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England.
“I want to sell out Twickenham,” said England’s victorious captain, Marlie Packer. “I believe we can do it and I believe we can do it before 2025 for the World Cup final.
“Look at today. We weren’t no curtain-raiser. It was all about us. I don’t think any of us have played in front of a crowd like that and I’ve been knocking around for a while now. Everything is on the rise so more tickets will be sold and more stadiums will sell out.”
Packer and her team, who were running out in front of four-figure crowds not so long ago, were thrilled by the support they attracted for the final fixture of this season’s Six Nations, with thousands gathering to cheer the Red Roses into the stadium before the match.
“The bus journey into Twickenham was a pinch-yourself moment. There were fans all along the streets … it was just a very special occasion from start to finish,” Packer said.
To help build more support before the World Cup, it is likely the national team will continue to play games around the country rather than copy the men and play almost all their games at Twickenham.
“Let’s get us in stadiums where we’re close to selling out all the time because we always want a stadium that’s near enough sold out,” said Packer. “Yes it would be great to play at Twickenham every time but we need to keep building our fan base. That’s down to us players and putting a product on the pitch that makes people want to come back. I think 58,000 people will want to come back and watch after today.”
England’s outgoing head coach, Simon Middleton, was similarly upbeat. “This game has given me more than I’ve ever dreamed of,” he said. “It’s been an exceptional day that I will never forget. You live for moments like lifting the trophy. The team deserve all the success they get. Winning ugly would have been great but we won with some fantastic rugby.”
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England’s player of the match, Sadia Kabeya, also suggested they have plenty more improvement in them over the next couple of years. “It was definitely a game of two halves but we stuck to it and our gameplan,” she said. “The only way is up for us.”