England Draws Record 77,120 Fans in Women's Rugby Win

Nearly 80,000 fans filled Twickenham Stadium on Saturday to watch England's women's rugby team launch their championship defense, proving women's sports can draw crowds once reserved only for men's games.

The Red Roses defeated Ireland 33-12 in front of 77,120 spectators, the largest crowd ever for a Women's Six Nations match. England scored five tries while extending their remarkable winning streak to 34 consecutive games.

The victory marked England's first match since they became world champions in September, when they beat Canada 33-13 at the same stadium. The team is now chasing their eighth straight Six Nations title and fifth consecutive Grand Slam.

Head coach John Mitchell fielded a notably different squad than the World Cup final team. Eight starters were changed, with four players from that championship roster now pregnant and starting their own family journeys.

England dominated the first half with tries from hooker Amy Cokayne and two from prop Sarah Bern. Ireland struggled with errors early but showed fighting spirit in the second half, making the final 40 minutes a 12-12 draw.

Wing Jess Breach scored her 54th try in 54 Tests, while star fullback Ellie Kildunne added another after initially dropping the ball over the line just before halftime. Ireland captain Erin King scored in her debut match wearing the armband, giving fans something to celebrate despite the loss.

The Ripple Effect

The record attendance signals a seismic shift in women's sports viewership. When Ireland last faced England in this competition, they lost 49-5, but this year they held the world champions to a draw in the second half, showing the overall level of play is rising across teams.

Scotland edged Wales 24-19 in Cardiff thanks to Helen Nelson's precise goal-kicking, while France rallied from a slow start to defeat Italy 40-7 in Grenoble. These competitive matches across the championship demonstrate depth that simply didn't exist a decade ago.

Ireland coach Scott Bemand praised his team's spirit despite the loss. His players proved they belong on the same field as the world's best, narrowing a gap that once seemed impossible to close.

The tournament comes at a cost for England, with lock Morwenna Taling suffering a serious injury and scrum-half Natasha Hunt also leaving injured. But Mitchell's squad showed the depth needed to keep winning even when stars go down.

When nearly 80,000 people choose to spend their Saturday watching women's rugby, it sends a clear message about where the sport is headed.