Celebrating rugby in Sunderland ahead of the Women's World Cup

Published on 7, August, 2025

With the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 set to kick-off on Wearside, the University of Sunderland is getting ready to celebrate the opening match alongside the rest of the city.

In the build-up to the England vs USA match at the Stadium of Light on Friday, 22 August, the University will be involved in a range of activities.

The University and Team Sunderland will be joining the Newcastle Rugby Foundation for its Seaburn Beach Festival on Wednesday, 20 August. Over the course of the day, teams from across the city will compete in touch rugby matches organised in partnership with the North East Combined Authority.

Sean Percival, Sport Performance and Activities Development Manager at Team Sunderland, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to support the city on a historic week as we prepare for the opening game of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

“We’re looking forward to showcasing the best of the University of Sunderland and Team Sunderland at both the Seaburn Beach Festival and on the day of the opening match.”

England’s Red Roses will be taking on the USA, with England favourites to win the tournament after last winning the World Cup in 2014.

On match day, Team Sunderland will also join others at the Fan Village in Keel Square which will open from 9am. The Fan Village will offer a range of food, drink, interactive walkabout characters and rugby-themed activities including pass speed and accuracy challenges, jump height tests, and a reaction wall for the public.

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Celebrations will continue on Saturday 23 August, as Sunderland BIDs is set to relocate the Sunniside Food Market to Keel Square for a day-long festival of music, entertainment and family-friendly activities.

Councillor Michael Mordey, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "It's such a proud moment for our city to be hosting the opener for the biggest ever Women's Rugby World Cup and we can't wait to give a warm Sunderland welcome to the many thousands of fans from home and abroad who are coming here for the match.

"It's a brilliant opportunity to showcase Sunderland on the international stage and we're aiming to create a real carnival atmosphere in the city centre that week with exciting events in the lead up to and after the match as we continue to work with our partners, businesses and communities to make this both a fantastic and memorable event.

"Attracting events of this scale is not only good for our city but for the north-east as a whole, with the opening match expected to bring with an estimated £20m economic boost to the region.”