Rugby World Cup

On Friday, the eve of New Zealand's first home Women's Rugby World Cup, the last thousand tickets were evaporating. Bars around Eden Park began checking ...

“But I’m still backing them to surprise and retain the cup.” “We always have the best talent in the world. A gulf in experience and financial investment has opened up: the Roses have been professional for a year longer, and have 1,200 Test caps to New Zealand’s 380. This is the Black Ferns’ first year on professional contracts, and Soper believes this will likely to be the last World Cup for which amateur teams have a shot at qualifying. “The game has changed,” Black Ferns coach Wayne Smith says. “For it to be close to 40,000 is crazy,” she said in a Friday radio interview.

Tickets to the opening match day of Rugby World Cup 2021 have sold out with a record-breaking crowd set to fill New Zealand's national stadium at Eden Park ...

Rugby World Cup 2021 is taking place in New Zealand from 8 October to 12 November, the first time the pinnacle event has been staged in the southern hemisphere. Free travel on Auckland Transport buses, trains and special event buses is included for ticket holders to and from Eden Park on RWC 2021 match days. Tickets are still available to matches after opening day, starting from just NZ$5 for kids and NZ$20 for adults*. “Women in sport and women’s rugby has a real buzz and momentum behind it right now. We’d like to express our gratitude to fans and to the global rugby whānau for sharing our belief. “This has been our shared vision from the outset and to see it come to light speaks volumes about the wave of change globally, celebrating wāhine toa and shining the spotlight on them. Records show the largest attendance to date in New Zealand was 16,162 for the 2008 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup final between North Korea v USA at North Harbour Stadium. It promises to be an unforgettable experience. World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: “We are really excited that the opening match day at Eden Park on Saturday is a sell-out and will set a new world record for a women’s test match attendance and new attendance record for a women’s sports event in New Zealand. Creating history for women’s sport and setting new records for women’s rugby, will undoubtedly elevate the women’s game to new heights for generations to come. Tickets to the opening match day of Rugby World Cup 2021 have sold out with a record-breaking crowd set to fill New Zealand’s national stadium at Eden Park on 8 October. Opening match day is the second RWC 2021 match day to sell out, with a capacity crowd of up to 4,500 fans set to attend match day four at Waitākere Stadium on 16 October as New Zealand’s Black Ferns take on Wales.

The world's best female rugby players are about to battle it out on New Zealand soil.

Travel on trains, and regular buses to and from Eden Park is included with your match ticket. The sun will attempt to shine but it's going to be mainly from behind clouds with an overcast weekend expected. Travel is not included in tickets for matches at Waitakere Stadium. In 2020 she was named as the top women's sevens player of the decade. The winger has super acceleration and is exciting to watch - blink and you'll miss her. ZOE ALDCROFT is another standout player from the England side. VITALINA NAIKORE from Fiji is a try-scoring machine. She's also a major breakdown threat giving her team an added edge in defence. Tui has her autobiography Straight Up in stores and she's an outspoken champion of promoting women in rugby. A high of 17C and low of 11C is forecast for the weekend but best to prepare for anything and rug up in the evening. PORTIA WOODMAN Gun player Woodman is a top try-scorer with seven tries in the recent 95-12 win over Japan at Eden Park. "I'm honoured to be a part of the Rugby World Cup 2021 family and to share the stage with amazing talent as we shine a light on women's sport," she said.

However, New Zealand have had a tumultuous two years marked by bad luck, coaching turnover, and an ugly 2021 European tour. Kiwi sport was hit hard by the Covid ...

Nevertheless, New Zealand have sold out Eden Park for their World Cup opener and are expected to have an easy time in their pool given they hold a 100% win record against every team. While the Black Ferns have rallied since Smith’s appointment, the turnaround might be too demanding to derail the England steam train heading for World Cup silverware. This landmark opportunity has given players a chance to fully realise their potential and compete with the ever-expanding list of nations doing the same. Defending champions and hosts New Zealand enter the Women’s Rugby World Cup looking to claim their sixth world title. With former All-Blacks coach Smith taking the reins, New Zealand have shown significant improvement, winning this year’s Pacific Four series, completing the double against Australia in the O’Reilly Cup and dominating their warm-up game against Japan 95-12. The threat of the Black Ferns lies in their wingers, who are not only incredibly fast but are powerful ball carriers.

Powerhouses England, France and New Zealand will "embrace" the record 40,000 sellout crowd set to watch the opening day of the women's Rugby World Cup at ...

The microscope is on women's rugby, I genuinely think this will be the biggest and best World Cup that ever has been." The opening World Cup game on Saturday pits France against South Africa, before Six Nations champions England face Fiji. Powerhouses England, France and New Zealand will "embrace" the record 40,000 sellout crowd set to watch the opening day of the women's Rugby World Cup at Eden Park on Saturday.

The early modelling was for the opening match day was a 5000 crowd at Waitakere Stadium, but such lowly expectations belong in the dustbin of history.

If quality local sport journalism is important to you, become a Stuff supporter today. A beautiful mind crunching all the player stats. You need journalists close enough to smell the liniment. “I've worked in men's sport all my life, this is the first time I've ever done a woman's event,” Hooper says. In truth, though, the legacy of this tournament still remains up for grabs. “And in return I want to make a pledge to you. Where we have a strong and sustainable global game, with global competitions, and global growth and retention plans at every level. What about a sellout? “The opening match day was forecast to be at Waitakere Stadium with 5000 people capacity. “When I started in February 2020, New Zealand Rugby had never sold tickets to women's rugby before,” Hooper states frankly. There is so simply no real precedent for what is about to happen in Auckland. Then the products will sell itself because we know it’s a fabulous product that people want to watch.

Police across Auckland and Whangārei are gearing up for New Zealand's hosting of the delayed tournament, by issuing an early plea to fans over behaviour in ...

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New Zealand Police are hoping for a smooth and successful tournament as New Zealand prepares to host the Women's Rugby World Cup 2021.

that’s for everybody to have a safe and enjoyable time and remember this The games will showcase our cities and Police will be supporting the The tournament will be held in Auckland and Whangārei, and staff across the

She was honoured to be part of the event and "share the stage with amazing talent as we shine a light on women's sport", Ora said when her involvement was ...

"Let us be there, joyous, in full voice, celebrating the women that play our national game … Tickets to the match, which was only about 1000 tickets short of a 40,000 sellout yesterday, are just $10 for adults and $5 for kids, to encourage full stadiums to support the growth of the women's game. Motorists won't be able to drive on part of Walters Rd and Sandringham Rd between 12.45pm and 10.45pm. The full on and off-field schedule in what's expected to be the biggest women's rugby event held should easily keep the near 40,000 lucky ticketholders entertained. She was honoured to be part of the event and "share the stage with amazing talent as we shine a light on women's sport", Ora said when her involvement was announced. But a ruler-width TV screen jammed barely twice that distance from your eyeballs, and companions who'd almost universally rather be anywhere else, can't compare to the warm spring sunshine on your face and the company of 40,000 others primed for today's Women's Rugby World Cup three-match opening day bonanza at Eden Park.

Mastercard Player of the Match Laure Sansus led the way with two tries as France secured a bonus-point victory in Pool C over South Africa.

Zenay Jordaan, who had come on at fly-half in the first half, could not convert, and it was 19-5. She set up inside-centre Gabrielle Vernier to go over for the score. Sansus was named Mastercard Player of the Match and afterwards her fellow try scorer Vernier said: “South Africa is a physical team, but we are so happy to start of with a win and the crowd here was amazing. Fly-half Caroline Drouin converted to make it 7-0. She intercepted the ball and showed good pace to run in for a score which Drouin converted to make it 19-0. However, 11th in the world South Africa played much better in the second half and scored a good try before France got the bonus point fourth try after 67 minutes.

France defeated South Africa 40-5 in the first match of the Rugby World Cup at Eden Park.

That they did so efficiently again was impressive — Sansus scored her second try in the 68th minute, attacking quickly from a tapped penalty. Inside center Gabrielle Vernier scored the second try and Emilie Boulard the third, giving France a 19-0 lead over 11th-ranked South Africa in better than even time. Sansus is one of those stars, the player of the championship in this season’s Six Nations tournament.

Sansus is one of those stars, the player of the championship in this season's Six Nations tournament. Second five-eighth Gabrielle Vernier scored the second try ...

That they did so efficiently again was impressive — Sansus scored her second try in the 68th minute, attacking quickly from a tapped penalty. Vernier scored off a neat chip kick by first-five Caroline Drouin and Boulard went almost the length of the field from an intercept. The score remained 19-0 at halftime as South Africa's performance was lifted by a strong scrum.