Why the historic Women's Rugby World Cup final is etched in my mind forever
Irish Examiner lifestyle writer Breda Graham attends the Women's Rugby World Cup final in London with Defender. Picture: Breda Graham.
The dust has settled on the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, and I’ve had the opportunity to take a step back and really appreciate the magic that was being one of the 81,885 at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham for the final.
I was lucky enough to travel to London with Defender, the principal partner for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, and make memories that are now etched in my mind for life.
In the end, after five weeks of fixtures, it was England and Canada who battled it out to be crowned champions, and the atmosphere in the stadium was unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed.
After landing in London on the Friday before matchday, we were transferred from Heathrow to the Old Sessions House, a historic landmark in London’s Islington district, where an all-women panel discussion was held.
The former courthouse played host to the inspiring panel discussion and Q&A session, which saw three women making waves in their respective fields take to the stage.
Evona Teh, an engineer and corporate strategist with Jaguar Land Rover, Hettie Bland, a designer with the brand, and Zainab Alema, a former neonatal nurse and rugby player, spoke about challenging stereotypes, being women who lead by example in their respective careers, and unlocking your true potential.
The panel discussion very much embodied Defender’s ‘embrace the impossible’ slogan and set us all up for a weekend filled with inspiration, motivation, and female empowerment.
Alema, a mother of three whose rugby journey proves that it’s never too late to follow your dreams, spoke about the moment she became the first Muslim woman in a hijab to play and score in England’s top-tier women’s rugby union division, the Premiership.
Donning the Leicester Tigers jersey against Gloucester-Hartpury, the moment was the beginning of Alema’s journey to paving the way for fellow Muslim women in the sport.
The Londoner who plays prop for Richmond RFC has ambitions to make it to the very top of the game and wear the hijab with an England kit, and I do not doubt for a second that she will do just that.
What struck me from the outset of this trip is just how community-driven women’s rugby has become, with social media playing a big part in the evolution of the game, in terms of the connection between players and fans.
Social media gives fans access to these players off the pitch, many of whom are extremely relatable because of their down-to-earth nature, their career paths, and their approach to the game, and this feeling of connection with these players was evident on matchday, as the support for the women on the pitch was palpable.
This theme of female empowerment ran right throughout the weekend, with the dinner location on night one of the trip being no exception.
At Apricity, a Michelin Green Star restaurant in Mayfair, chef-owner Chantelle Nicholson and her team have a simple mission: to create unforgettable dining experiences that nourish people and the planet.
The team of predominantly women, who embrace conscious cooking, champion British farmers, growers, bakers, and makers who share their commitment to flavour, seasonality, and care for the earth.
After a lovely evening of getting to know the wider Defender team, exploring the ethos of the brand and their commitment to supporting women’s rugby, it was time to put our heads on our pillows and get a good night’s sleep at the lovely 1 Hotel Mayfair ahead of the excitement of matchday.
Matchday at Twickenham was something of a fever dream, and attending the game as a guest of principal partner Defender exceeded my wildest expectations.
From the moment I received the invite, I felt extremely grateful. I grew up in a family where matchday Saturdays were spent sitting in front of the television in anticipation of kick-off. There’s just something about pre-match commentary, the high of the game itself, the post-match evaluation, and numerous cups of tea to regulate everyone’s emotions that cannot be beaten.
But watching the Women’s Rugby World Cup final live at an iconic venue such as Allianz Stadium in Twickenham? That’s on another level, and something I never thought I’d have the opportunity to experience.
As guests of Defender, our group had access to the East Wing hospitality suite at the stadium, where we were treated to a pre-match panel discussion with rugby players, including English rugby union player Maro Itoje, who was attending the final.
Walking out of the suite to the sounds of cheering fans in the stands, I felt a rush of emotion come over me.
The realisation that I was lucky enough to be one of the 81,885 people who were about to witness history being made for women’s rugby was something really quite special.
81,885 people, full of pride and ready to support their team, filled the three tiers of Twickenham, a record crowd for a women's rugby match and a Rugby World Cup match, and the second-highest attendance for a Rugby World Cup Final – men's or women's.
Not only was it a historic match in terms of the record-breaking numbers, but it felt like a pivotal moment in women’s rugby – those who were at Twickenham to witness the Red Roses take victory were there for all the right reasons, purely to show their respect and support to the inspirational players on the pitch.
I overheard people in the stands behind us say they had never before seen a crowd so engaged with the game, and I have to say, I shared that sentiment.
The cheers of the crowd were deafening when the final whistle was blown, and it was England who were crowned champions of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
At that moment, I took the time to really take in what was happening around me, looking around at the stands full of celebrating fans and soaking up the electric atmosphere.
Truly one for the books that will be spoken about for a long time to come, and a moment that was the hot topic of conversation over our final team dinner at Dovetale on Saturday night, before returning to Cork on Sunday, with new memories to last a lifetime and lots of momentos for the scrapbook.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
