Exeter celebrates legacy of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
Published on: 24/02/2026
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 has left an unprecedented legacy on England and the global game – and it directly boosted the economy in Exeter by more than £30 million.
That’s the finding of new impact report confirming the tournament as the most successful in the competition’s history, both on and off the field.
As one of eight official host cities, Exeter played a vital role in ensuring the economic, social and cultural rewards of the tournament were shared nationwide.
Exeter’s Sandy Park enjoyed attendances of 58,700 spectators during the tournament and the total economic impact on the city was calculated at £31.7 million.
The value of the coverage from national and international media coverage for attracting future visitors has been valued in the report as £7.2 million for Exeter.
Cllr Duncan Wood, lead councillor for leisure and healthy living, said: “I very much welcome the findings of this report.
“We all know what a fantastic tournament it was and the boost it gave everyone in Exeter, both in terms of encouraging participation in sport – particularly among women and girls - and also the global showcase provided to the city.
“It was great to see that that almost 60,000 people watched matches at Sandy Park, many of travelled from all over the world, with a direct boost to the visitor economy of more than £30 million.
“Exeter was a very proud host city, and when you see the impact that was generated, it certainly justifies all the hard work that went into organising it.”
Released by World Rugby, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Impact Report and the Impact Beyond 2025 Global Impact Report provide, for the first time, a unified picture of the tournament’s local and international impact.
Together, they demonstrate how England 2025 acted as both a record-breaking sporting spectacle and a powerful engine for long-term growth.
The tournament sold 444,465 tickets – tripling attendance from the previous edition – with 92 per cent of all tickets sold. The final at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham drew a record 81,885 fans, setting a new world record for a women’s rugby match.
Local engagement activity, regional media coverage and community programmes helped create a vibrant atmosphere in the city, drawing visitors, boosting hospitality and showcasing Exeter on the global stage.
The economic impact was equally significant. Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 generated £294.7 million for host cities, with more than 80 per cent of that benefit realised outside London.
The event also delivered £54 million in destination media value, reinforcing the tournament’s role in driving regional growth, tourism and civic pride.
Beyond attendance and economics, the tournament drove meaningful social change. Ninety-six per cent of spectators described the event as inspiring, while 75 per cent of girls and women aged 13–25 reported feeling more motivated to be active after engaging with the competition.
Of the 44 per cent of attendees who were new to women’s rugby, 94 per cent said they intended to follow the sport in future.
Exeter Rugby Club’s CEO and chairman Tony Rowe CBE said: “I am delighted to see the Rugby World Cup had such a positive impact on our city. We were proud that our venue was selected for last year’s tournament, in the wake of games hosted here for the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2015, and that we could give so many supporters a warm welcome to the women’s game.
“We have already seen an increase in supporters coming to Exeter Chiefs Women’s games at Sandy Park and hope that is a trend that continues. There are World Cup and international players running out for Chiefs Women week in week out here at Sandy Park so not only will they be familiar to the rugby-watching audience but are also very exciting to watch.”
Globally, the tournament reached new heights. Broadcast coverage generated 147 million viewing hours – a 336 per cent increase on 2021 – while more than one billion social media impressions elevated players to new audiences worldwide.
Commercial growth matched this momentum, with a 330 per cent increase in sponsorship revenues and £201 million in media value delivered to partners.
Through the Impact Beyond 2025 programme, the tournament’s influence extended far beyond England.
More than 35,500 teenage girls took up rugby through Rugby Rising Play grants across 42 unions, while leadership and coaching initiatives increased female coach representation at the tournament to 32 per cent, up from 15 per cent in 2021.
Written By:
Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club
