2,600 Women Try Rugby After Brighton Hosts World Cup

When England won the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2025, Brighton didn't just celebrate. The city turned that excitement into action, getting thousands of local women and girls onto the pitch.

Brighton and Hove hosted two World Cup matches, including games featuring the eventual champions. Sell-out crowds packed Brighton and Hove Albion's stadium while even more fans gathered in the city center to watch on big screens.

But the real victory came after the final whistle. Through the tournament's Strive '25 legacy programme, the city council organized rugby activities specifically designed to welcome women and girls into the sport.

The results speak for themselves. More than 2,600 females participated in rugby events across Brighton and Hove following the tournament.

Nearly 100 women joined rugby-themed exercise sessions through the council's Active for Life scheme. Hundreds of schoolgirls participated in girls-only rugby festivals, many touching a rugby ball for the first time.

The city also launched weekly women-only walking rugby sessions, partnering with Hove Rugby Club and local community groups. These gentler versions of the game made rugby accessible to women of all fitness levels and abilities.

Rugby-themed warmups appeared at local parkruns, and pop-up events brought the actual World Cup trophy to neighborhoods across the city. The message was clear: this sport belongs to everyone.

The Ripple Effect

Council Leader Bella Sankey says the impact goes far beyond finding the next star player. For some participants, rugby means better physical fitness. For others, it offers mental health support, reduces isolation, or builds confidence and community connections.

When girls see women competing at the highest level, something shifts. The 2025 World Cup showed young females that elite sport isn't just for boys, and Brighton made sure that inspiration didn't fade when the tournament ended.

The city proved that hosting major sporting events creates more than economic benefits and global advertising. When done right, these moments can spark lasting change in local communities.

Those 2,600 women and girls now know that rugby is their game too.