'I believe it could be me one day' - Exeter girls lifted by Rugby World Cup at Sandy Park

Exeter welcomed thousands of rugby fans this weekend as Sandy Park staged two Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.

On Saturday, New Zealand beat South Africa 46-17, followed by France’s 18-13 win over Ireland on Sunday.

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The buzz this weekend was impossible to miss.

On Saturday, fans were carrying silver fern flags and Springbok banners as pubs, restaurants and seats in Sandy Park were packed.

The match itself was unforgettable.

Speaking to Exeter locals about the impact, Tom Radford, a lifelong rugby fan from Exmouth, said: "It’s exciting that something like a World Cup is happening right on our doorstep!”

Fan zones in the city centre showed the matches on big screens alongside music and food stalls, attracting families, students and locals.

Volunteers welcomed visitors, and the city was decorated with bunting and rugby-themed displays.

For young players in the crowd, particularly girls and women, the Rugby World Cup in Exeter provided inspiration.

A 14-year-old from a local club said seeing the game made her “believe it could be [her] one day!”.

The tournament is expected to encourage more young people, particularly girls, to take up the sport.

The weekend also brought challenges such as heavy traffic, bad weather and crowded trains.

Businesses saw higher customer numbers, rugby clubs reported new interest in the sport and Exeter’s profile as a host city for major events was raised.

The weekend at Sandy Park combined top-level rugby with a wider celebration of community spirit and pride in Exeter.