Exeter a host city for the Women’s RWC 2025

Exeter will benefit from a long lasting legacy of participation in sport created by the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 after the city was formally unveiled as a host for the prestigious tournament.

Seven matches are expected to be played at the home of Exeter Chiefs in August and September 2025.

A launch event at Sandy Park celebrated Impact ’25, a transformational legacy programme that has seen £12.13m of Government funding committed to women and girls’ grassroots rugby already as part of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.

The aim of growing the game throughout the country. Impact ’25 will be delivered by the RFU in partnership with UK Government, Sport England and UK Sport.

The programme will provide substantial improvements in facilities and greater opportunities for females at all levels of the game in England, with a range of support being offered to clubs across four key pillars: facility development, coaches and match officials, playing and volunteering, and community and fan engagement. 

To celebrate 500 days to go to the curtain-raiser of Rugby World Cup 2025, the tournament legacy programme was announced at Exeter’s Sandy Park.

Dozens of young players from local rugby clubs were joined by World Rugby’s Chief of Women’s Rugby Sally Horrox as well as leading figures from Exeter Rugby Club and Exeter City Council.

Bindu Arjoon, Chief Executive of Exeter City Council, said: “The City Council is delighted to support the launch of the Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 here in Exeter.

“I have absolutely no doubt that the Women’s World Cup England 2025 will be just as important for the city as the men’s tournament was a decade earlier.

“As well as placing Exeter firmly in the global spotlight once again, with all the benefits that brings, it will leave a lasting legacy of increased participation in sport by women and girls in the city. That will be a fantastic achievement.”