77,120 Fans Break Women's Rugby Record in England
A record-shattering crowd of 77,120 fans packed Allianz Stadium to watch England's women's rugby team defend their title, marking the largest Women's Six Nations attendance in history. The turnout crushes the previous record by nearly 20,000 spectators.
More than 77,000 fans just proved that women's rugby has arrived on the world stage in a big way.
England's Red Roses kicked off their championship defense with a 33-12 victory over Ireland at Allianz Stadium, but the real story was who showed up to watch. The crowd of 77,120 shattered the previous Women's Six Nations attendance record of 58,498 set just two years ago in 2023.
The world champions delivered a dominant performance in front of their home crowd, extending their winning streak to 34 consecutive test matches. Hooker Amy Cokayne and prop Sarah Bern led the charge with early tries, while full-back Ellie Kildunne recovered from a first-half fumble to score a brilliant try in the second half.
Ireland, who have improved dramatically under coach Scott Bemand, showed resilience that would have seemed impossible during their 88-10 loss to England two years ago. The visitors scored two second-half tries through Anna McGann and captain Erin King, proving the gap between the teams is narrowing.
The record attendance comes just months after England won their first World Cup in September, ending an 11-year drought. The team played eight new starters compared to that World Cup final, including new captain Megan Jones, who stepped in for pregnant skipper Zoe Stratford.
The Ripple Effect
The massive turnout signals a seismic shift for women's rugby. Just a decade ago, these players competed in near-empty stadiums with little media coverage. Now they're filling one of Europe's premier venues to capacity.
The growth extends beyond England's borders too. Ireland coach Bemand noted his team had never played in front of a crowd this size, giving his players invaluable experience on the biggest stage. Even in defeat, Ireland showed enough quality to suggest they could challenge powerhouses France and England later in the tournament.
France also opened their campaign with a convincing 40-7 win over Italy, setting up what promises to be another thrilling championship race. England will chase their eighth straight Six Nations title and fifth consecutive Grand Slam when they face Scotland next Saturday at Murrayfield.
The record crowd proves what advocates have argued for years: give women's sports the platform, and fans will come.
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Based on reporting by BBC Sport
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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