Women's Rugby Draws 77,000 Fans to Six Nations Opener

Just six months after England won the Women's Rugby World Cup in front of 81,885 fans, over 77,000 supporters packed Allianz Stadium again to watch the Red Roses begin their Six Nations defense against Ireland.

The crowd shattered the previous Women's Six Nations attendance record of 58,498 set in 2023. For context, a decade ago only 2,500 fans watched England play Ireland at the same venue.

"We have to get used to this," said England full-back Ellie Kildunne, the 2024 world player of the year. "This is going to become the norm. This shows where the women's game is going and long may it last."

England delivered for their supporters with a convincing 36-19 victory, extending their winning streak to 34 matches. The Red Roses scored five tries and never trailed, though they weren't flawless in their execution.

Kildunne herself experienced a very human moment when she dropped the ball just before crossing the tryline for what should have been an easy score. Rather than dwelling on the mistake, she bounced back to score twice in the match, confidently placing the ball down with one hand both times.

"People will want an explanation as to what happened. I just dropped the ball," she said with refreshing honesty. "It shows that we are just people and mistakes will happen, and we always talk about how quickly you can recover."

The Ripple Effect

The consistently massive crowds represent more than just numbers. They signal a fundamental shift in how women's rugby is valued and supported in England.

The Red Roses have strategically played matches across the country to build their fan base, and that groundwork is paying off. The momentum from record World Cup viewing figures carried directly into this tournament opener.

England faces significant challenges ahead, having lost four players from their World Cup final squad to pregnancies. Lock Morwenna Talling suffered an injury against Ireland that will likely sideline her for the rest of the tournament, adding to the roster challenges.

But head coach John Mitchell remains unfazed. "We must adapt," he said, noting his team has now lost four international locks. "There are different ways to play this game, and if that means using back rowers, then we will make it work."

Captain Megan Jones, who stepped into the leadership role after Zoe Stratford's pregnancy, earned player of the match honors with a commanding defensive performance. The team is seeking an eighth consecutive Six Nations title and fifth Grand Slam in a row, having not lost a tournament match since 2018.

The packed stadium sends a clear message: women's rugby has arrived as a mainstream sport, and these record-breaking crowds are just the beginning.