Women's Rugby World Cup 2010 kicks off on Friday and
event organisers are confident that the global showcase tournament
will elevate the Women's Game to new levels, capturing the
hearts and minds of new audiences both in the UK and around the
world via an unprecedented broadcast platform.
The 17-day tournament features the world's best women
players following a first ever global qualification process. Six
teams qualified automatically, three-time defending champions New
Zealand, 2006 runners-up England, France, Canada, USA and South
Africa. Kazakhstan, Australia, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Sweden
join them having successfully negotiated the extensive
qualification process.
The Twickenham Stoop will host the semi finals and final on
Wednesday, September 1 and Sunday, September 5 respectively with
the pool matches and play-off games staged at the multi-million
pound high performance centre, Surrey Sports Park in Guildford.
"Women's Rugby World Cup has redefined the
boundaries of Women's Rugby over the years, producing memorable
encounters, outstanding Rugby and positioning the Women's Game
in front of global audiences. Through an irresistible platform of
record TV coverage, highly-competitive matches, unprecedented media
interest and strong public support," said IRB Vice Chairman
Bill Beaumont at the official launch in City Hall, London today.
"I am sure that Women's Rugby World Cup 2010 will
take the Women's Game to new levels, attracting new audiences
in the UK and around the world.
"I would like to thank the many people at the RFUW and
RFU who have worked tirelessly to ensure that Women's Rugby
World Cup 2010 is the biggest and most successful tournament to
date. With all the teams here we can look forward to a wonderful
festival of world-class Rugby played in impressive venues in front
of large enthusiastic audiences. It promises to be an event not to
be missed."
Beaumont was joined at the launch by Hugh Robertson MP, UK
Government Minister for Sport, and RFUW President Gill Burns,
underlining the high level of support for a tournament that will
usher in a decade of world class sporting events in the UK,
including Rugby World Cup 2015.
"I am delighted that England is hosting the Women's
Rugby World Cup. This will showcase the sport at the highest level
and I hope encourage many more young women and girls' to get
involved in the game. I wish the IRB and the RFU the best of luck
in putting on a successful tournament," said Robertson.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson added: "City Hall is immensely proud to be marking the start of the Women's Rugby World Cup, hosted in England for the first time, and I am delighted that the finals will take place at the Twickenham Stoop. Women's Rugby is rapidly growing and we have a truly world class England team. This is a fantastic opportunity to watch them play on home soil and cheer them on to victory. I hope it will inspire other young people to get into sport. "
Video - WRWC Tournament Launch
England captain Catherine Spencer said: "It's really
exciting that we are now just days away from the games getting
underway. We have been training really hard for this moment and
know that we are ready for this. We are chomping at the bit for our
first game against Ireland on Friday. To play in a World Cup is a
massive honour. To play in a World Cup on home soil and lead your
country is extra special and I just can't wait."
Women's and girls' Rugby is growing strongly around
the world, with 200,000 women and girls now playing the game
regularly. In England there are 15,000 women and girls playing the
game, 8,000 of whom are youth players, which highlights the massive
growth in the sport.
An extensive legacy programme, which provides an integral
component of all IRB tournaments, has been built around Women's
Rugby World Cup 2010. Twelve Legacy Project Officers tasked with
the delivery of 30 projects nationwide has been an exciting
development aimed at increasing awareness and participation in
Women's Rugby and maximising the opportunities for girls and
women to be involved in the Game at all levels.
The Legacy Project Officers had a goal to engage 200 new
participants in each of the 12 regions, then to encourage 10
percent of these participants to move into local rugby clubs, and
at the same time to significantly increase the number of volunteers
in the game. So far, 30 programmes have taken place up and down the
country and nearly 5,000 women and girls have taken part with the
tournament itself attracting more than 300 volunteers in various
placements from hospitality to match reporting and team liaison
officers.
Rosie Williams, Managing Director of the RFUW, added:
"The Women's Rugby World Cup 2010 is a marvellous
opportunity to raise the profile of the women's game in
England. Women's Rugby is a rapidly growing sport but to have
the showcase event on English soil will undoubtedly help raise the
profile of the sport and get more people into the game, and we have
a range of legacy programmes designed to achieve just
that."
