Full house at Sandy Park as Canada and Fiji triumph

Exeter’s Sandy Park was packed to the rafters on Saturday, 6 September, as a capacity crowd of more than 14,000 witnessed a thrilling Women’s Rugby World Cup double-header.

Fans from across the South West created a festival atmosphere, turning the ground into a sea of colour and noise as they watched Canada defeat Scotland before Fiji pulled off a famous win over Wales.

Canada 40–19 Scotland

The day’s opener saw Canada showcase their power and precision in a 40–19 victory over Scotland. The result secured Canada top spot in Pool B and a place in the quarter-finals, with their strong travelling support celebrating every score.

Wales 25–28 Fiji

The atmosphere reached fever pitch in the second match, where Fiji edged Wales 28–25 in a pulsating contest. The result marked only Fiji’s second-ever World Cup win, with the Sandy Park crowd rising to applaud their achievement at the final whistle.

Both games highlighted the growing global reach of the women’s game, but it was the full house at Sandy Park that stole the show. The sell-out reinforced Exeter’s reputation as one of the sport’s most passionate host cities, with the city once again proving it can deliver world-class rugby on the biggest stage.

Next up is a huge weekend of knockout rugby at Sandy Park, with two Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals set to be staged in front of packed crowds.

On Saturday, 13 September at 1pm, the winners of Pool C will take on the runners-up from Pool D. The following day, Sunday, 14 September at 1pm, the Pool D winners will face the Pool C runners-up.

Several quarter-final spots are now confirmed as the tournament reaches its knockout phase.

• Qualification confirmed: Canada and Scotland have already secured their places from Pool B, while England has secured top spot in Pool A.

• Tie still to decide: Australia and the USA remain in a tight race for the second qualifying place in Pool A.

• Pool C battle: New Zealand edges ahead of Ireland, with the final standings still to be decided and the top position potentially affecting quarter-final conditions.

• Pool D outlook: France are strong favourites to top the group. South Africa has clinched a historic first-ever quarter-final berth, while Italy and Brazil finish out the group.

With these outcomes, two exciting quarter-finals are now confirmed for Sandy Park, setting the stage for high-stakes international matchups in Exeter.