A record crowd watches England’s women become world champions

England beat Canada 33–13 in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final on 27 September 2025, winning their third title. The match at Twickenham drew 81,885 spectators, a world record for a women’s rugby match, according to the official tournament report.

The result and the occasion

Reuters’ match report, carried by CNA, described England turning a 21–8 half-time lead into a decisive victory. The win followed their titles in 1994 and 2014 and extended their winning run to 33 matches. Canada remained competitive, but England’s forward power and finishing settled the final.

The official report identified Sadia Kabeya as player of the match. The attendance figure is a measure of the audience for this particular game; it should not be treated as a count of new players or evidence that every part of the sport now enjoys equal resources.

Making visibility count

For WDWK, the occasion offers a positive example of women’s sport attracting a major stage and a major crowd. A successful final can create attention, but the lasting opportunity is what follows: accessible clubs, coaching and routes for girls to keep playing. Those are priorities we draw from the occasion, rather than outcomes established by the scoreline. Celebrating the achievement and asking how to widen participation can sit comfortably together.