The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 became a truly historic final at Twickenham, where England defeated Canada 33–13 in front of a record-breaking 81,885 fans, the largest crowd ever for a women’s rugby match. Millions more tuned in on TV, with a peak UK audience of 5.8 million, making it the most-watched rugby game of the year.
For TackleLondon, this was a deeply personal global sporting milestone. Thanks to the generosity of New Deal for Young People, we were able to take two of our programme participants, Julia and Josephine, to experience this moment first-hand.
Both girls first picked up a rugby ball with us at Thomas More and have since gone on to join their local club, embodying the pathway we want all young people to access: from school sessions to club rugby, all the way to watching the Red Roses lift the World Cup at Twickenham.
Our Communications Lead, Caitlin, reflected on the day:
For us, the sight of Julia and Josephine cheering among 80,000 others wasn’t just about a game, it was a glimpse of rugby’s power to inspire, to connect and to create lifelong memories.
This final was the culmination of years of investment and vision through Impact ’25, the RFU’s legacy programme that has already:
- Reached over 37,000 women and girls Supported 500+ clubs, schools, and universities
- Engaged 3,385 new female coaches and officials
- Delivered 77% of targeted funding outside London & South East
World Rugby has hailed this as “the greatest Women’s Rugby World Cup of all time”, and for good reason. The ripple effects of this tournament will be felt for generations. For Julia and Josephine, it’s sparked something unforgettable.
This day truly symbolised what TackleLondon stands for: access, opportunity and belonging through rugby.
