Exeter to host women's Rugby World Cup

City is one of eight for 2025 tournament

Exeter is to be a host city and venue for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.

The home of the Exeter Chiefs, Sandy Park, is one of just eight stadia that will welcome the biggest ever celebration of women’s rugby between 22 August and 27 September 2025.

The number of teams participating will increase from 12 to 16 as the game becomes more popular with women and girls. 

The venues were selected after a competitive process, in which Exeter City Council took part. Its leader, Labour councillor Phil Bialyk, said: “This is fantastic news for Exeter, for rugby fans and for the women’s game.
 
“We were privileged to be chosen as a host city for the 2015 Men’s Rugby World Cup and now to be chosen again for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup is the icing on top of the cake.”
 
Bindu Arjoon, Chief Executive of Exeter City Council said: “Once again Exeter has been put on the sporting map and the eyes of the rugby world will be focused firmly on Exeter. I must pay tribute to everyone who has campaigned for our amazing city to host the Rugby World Cup 2025 and all the hard work that has gone in to making this bid successful.”

The full list of host cities and venues is:

• Exeter – Sandy Park
• Brighton and Hove – Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium
• Bristol – Ashton Gate
• London – Twickenham Stadium
• Manchester – Salford Community Stadium
• Northampton – Franklin’s Gardens
• Sunderland – Stadium of Light
• York – York Community Stadium

 
Following a competitive selection process, the final roster of host cities and venues reflects the tournament’s core mission of growing the sport, taking rugby across the country and engaging with diverse communities. All will provide a family-focused festival of rugby.
For the first time ever, the elite women’s rugby tournament will be hosted across eight venues and cities around the country with 16 teams competing to be crowned world champions.

Full match schedule and ticketing details will be announced next year. Canada, England, France and New Zealand have already qualified for Rugby World Cup 2025 after finishing in the top four of RWC 2021, with the remaining positions to be filled via World Rugby’s new women’s international 15s tournament, WXV, and regional competitions in 2024.