Women's Rugby Sees Surge in Interest After Women's World Cup

Strategic Insights -

The Women's World Cup has inspired a significant increase in interest in women's rugby, with a former international player calling on British schools to play a vital role in building on this momentum. Jodie Ounsley, known for her role as "Fury" in the BBC game show Gladiators, believes that schools have a crucial part to play in introducing the sport to a new generation of players.

Ounsley, who represented England in rugby sevens before transitioning to Gladiators, attended the Red Roses' 69-7 thrashing of the United States last Friday, which drew a record crowd of 42,723 and 2.4 million viewers on the BBC. The tournament's success has sparked a refreshing shift in how people perceive women's rugby, and Ounsley hopes that this interest will translate into more opportunities for young players.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Women's World Cup has seen a significant increase in interest in women's rugby, with a record crowd of 42,723 attending the opener in Sunderland.
  • The BBC coverage of the tournament drew a peak of 2.4 million viewers, indicating a substantial audience engagement.
  • Jodie Ounsley, a former international rugby player and Gladiators star, believes that schools have a vital role to play in introducing the sport to a new generation of players.
  • Ounsley hopes that the interest generated by the tournament will translate into more opportunities for young players, particularly in schools that currently do not offer girls' rugby teams.
  • The "See it. Believe it." campaign, supported by Vodafone, aims to challenge misconceptions about women's rugby and connect the sport with new audiences.
  • Ounsley's own experiences in school highlight the importance of schools in promoting women's rugby, as she was initially discouraged from playing with the boys' team.

Statistics:

  • 42,723 attended the Women's World Cup opener between England and the United States.
  • 2.4 million viewers watched the BBC coverage of the tournament on its peak day.
  • The tournament has seen a significant increase in interest in women's rugby, with many fans inspired to try the sport.

Sources:

  • Red Roses (@RedRosesRugby) August 23, 2025
  • PA news agency (quote from Jodie Ounsley)
  • Vodafone (advertisement for the "See it. Believe it." campaign)