City hopeful Women’s Rugby World Cup will inspire

England youth internationals receive specialised coaching at Cardinal Newman College in Hove

A city is hopeful that hosting Women’s Rugby World Cup matches will inspire the next generation of players.

One of the two games scheduled to take place at the Amex Stadium in Brighton, East Sussex, will feature England’s Red Roses.

The leader of Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) said the city wanted to make the most of the tournament’s financial and cultural impact.

England Under-18s player Sophia MacDonald, who receives specialised coaching at Cardinal Newman College in Hove, said: “We are going to get to see the people we aspire to be like playing where we live.

“It’s going to be amazing.”

Brighton is one of eight cities chosen to host matches at the tournament in 2025.

Brighton is one of eight cities chosen to host matches at the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2025

Alan Robins, cabinet member for sport and recreation at BHCC, said: “Hosting this prestigious tournament not only gives us a unique opportunity to showcase the city across the world, but also provides us with a fantastic platform to raise the profile of women’s rugby in the city and encourage many more girls and women to get involved in sport.”

Council leader Bella Sankey said girls and women had long suffered barriers in participating in sport.

“So it’s important that we are demonstrating to girls, here on their doorstep, that rugby is something that they can get involved in and get inspired by,” she said.

Harlequins and England Under-19 international Zara Green added: “When they announced the tournament, I was praying the Amex was going to be one of the venues.”

One of the two games to take place at the Amex Stadium will feature England’s Red Roses

Brighton, who will also host a fan zone during the tournament, previously hosted one of the most memorable moments of the men’s World Cup in 2015, when South Africa were beaten by Japan.

The city also hosted the Lionesses in the Euros in 2022 – a campaign England went on to win.

A report after that tournament said it gave host cities an £8m economic boost.

The Women’s Rugby World Cup will kick off on 22 August 2025.