Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: Brighton & Hove One Of Eight Host Cities

Brighton & Hove is one of the eight cities chosen to host Women's Rugby World Cup matches in 2025.

World Rugby and the RFU, with support from the UK Government, will confirm today (August 22) the host cities, venues and tournament dates that will provide the stage for the biggest-ever celebration of women’s rugby.

Councillor Alan Robins, chair of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Culture, Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Economic Committee said:

“We are delighted, once again to have been selected to showcase women’s sport at the highest level.

“Having hosted the Lionesses during their journey to becoming European Champions last year, it will be wonderful to welcome rugby players and fans from around the world in 2025.

“Being a host city for the Women’s Rugby World Cup, brings with it a fantastic opportunity to open up more opportunities for women and girls to play as well as involve local people in the tournament and enhance our growing reputation as a major sporting city.”

Kicking off today and concluding with the Rugby World Cup final, on September 27, organisers say the 10th edition of this showcase event promises to be the most accessible ever.

The host cities and venues have been chosen to reflect the tournament’s core mission of growing the sport, taking rugby across the country, engaging with diverse communities, providing a family-focused festival of rugby.

The tournament will see 16 teams compete to be crowned world champions, with games played at:

• Brighton & Hove, Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium
• Bristol – Ashton Gate
• Exeter – Sandy Park
• London – Twickenham Stadium
• Manchester – Salford Community Stadium
• Northampton – Franklin’s Gardens 
• Sunderland – Stadium of Light 
• York – York Community Stadium

Brighton & Hove was one of the host cities for the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2015 with matches at the Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium including the historic shock 34-32 Japan victory over South Africa.

More recently, the Lionesses thrilled crowds at the stadium on their journey to become UEFA European Champions.

Brighton & Hove Albion chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber said:

“We’re delighted to be chosen as one of the eight host venues for Rugby World Cup 2025.

“The men’s game in the 2015 World Cup when Japan beat South Africa was one of the most amazing days we’ve had at the stadium and I’m sure the matches we host in 2025 will create many more lasting memories.

“Our women and girls programme is an integral and hugely important part of our commitment to women’s football at the club and we’re delighted to extend that support for women’s sport to world-class rugby too.

“We look forward to welcoming the teams and the supporters attending the Rugby World Cup in 2025 and to showcasing our stadium and the city of Brighton & Hove.”

Red Rose and Saracens player Jess Breach, added:

“After 2015 with the boys, it’s amazing to have rugby come back to Brighton with the girls for the 2025 Rugby World Cup. Brighton is a brilliant seaside city where I played when I was younger which makes it even more exciting. Hopefully we will see a lot of you there in 2025!”

Rugby World Cup 2021 smashed records across the board, with more than 150,000 fans attending games, around 1.8 million viewers in England and New Zealand tuning into the final and over 156 million video views on social media.

Canada, England, France and New Zealand have already qualified for Rugby World Cup 2025 after finishing in the top four of RWC 2021, with the remaining positions to be filled via World Rugby’s new women’s international 15s tournament, WXV, and regional competitions in 2024.

RWC 2025 aims to continue to raise the bar for women in rugby, inspiring the next generation of young players and supercharging the growth of women’s sport in England and across the globe. 

The Rugby World Cup Impact Programme, delivered by the RFU in partnership with the UK Government and Sport England, will create more opportunities for females than ever before across all levels of the game through its volunteer, coaching and internship programmes.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said:

“Following the record-breaking success of Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand, women’s rugby has built an incredibly strong foundation and as one of the fastest growing sports in the world, RWC 2025 is set to take the game to the next level as the biggest celebration of women’s rugby with fans and players very much at its heart.

“We look forward to continuing to collaborate with all our partners as we strive to deliver a world-class and historic event that will leave a lasting legacy, both in England and around the world as we aim to inspire millions of new players and fans and continue to grow the game we love.”

Sue Day, RFU Chief Operating Officer and Chief Finance Officer and former Red Rose, added:

“Through our continued investment in the women's game, the Red Roses have already inspired a new generation of girls and boys to play rugby. Our home World Cup will further accelerate this growth and our continued partnership with World Rugby and the UK Government will support our aim to make that happen.

“In taking Rugby World Cup 2025 to venues the length and breadth of England, we want to give fans who may not have watched rugby before, the chance to be inspired by world class sporting action.  It’s access to tournaments like these that can light a spark in people, and we hope it will encourage a new generation of people to give rugby a try for themselves.”

UK Sports Minster, Stuart Andrew commented:

"Congratulations to all the selected host cities and venues. Staging events like the Women's Rugby World Cup will further cement the UK’s position as a global home of major sporting events. We support the RFU's and World Rugby's ambitious plans to host matches right across England and make the tournament the most well-attended in the history of the sport - setting a benchmark for future World Cups. 

"It promises to be a memorable occasion as we showcase the best of women's rugby union to a worldwide audience and continue to break barriers for women's sport."

Independent Chair of the Rugby World Cup 2025 Board of Directors, Gill Whitehead, said:

“Rugby World Cup 2025 represents the beginning of an exciting new future for Rugby World Cups as the first event to be held under a new delivery model with World Rugby and the RFU in partnership, working alongside the UK Government and we look forward to working together closely over the next two years.

“The host cities and venues have been selected with accessibility in mind. No matter where you live in England, you should be within reach of a match. All the cities selected have demonstrated they share the same passion for the tournament and are committed in joining us on our mission to deliver the biggest and best women’s Rugby World Cup yet.”

The women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 is supported by its official partners Mastercard, Capgemini and Gallagher.

RWC 2025 will be the first Rugby World Cup hosted under the new joint-venture model (Local Operating Committee) between World Rugby and the RFU, with funding from the UK Government and support from host city partners.

Full match schedule and ticketing details will be announced next year. To be the first to hear all the latest news updates including ticketing information, fans can register here.