Feaunati and Rogers to feature in opening Rugby World Cup game

Exeter Chiefs Women’s duo Maddie Feaunati and Hope Rogers will feature in Friday night’s opening game of the Rugby World Cup at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.

Feaunati will be looking to make an impact off the bench for the Red Roses while USA Eagle Rogers will start at loosehead, making her first appearance in her fourth World Cup.

Rogers said: “It’s going to be the best game. It’s going to be against the home country, who are obviously doing really well. I think people will see a different USA this time out though; we are going to be a team that is ready to compete but will win games too.”

Head coach John Mitchell has made no changes to his starting XV that defeated France 40-6 in their second warm-up match ahead of the competition. It means Feaunati will make her World Cup debuts from the bench along with Kelsey Clifford and Emma Sing.

Red Roses’ defence coach Sarah Hunter said: “We've been in pre-season since June. I think the girls are ready to get going, but we know we've got to keep working hard, keep pushing and keep training.

"With the Red Roses there's always that level of expectation. We have that pressure, but it is a privilege. We lean into that; we get excited by that. It becomes a standard of expectation that I guess the players expect of themselves…and that excites them."

More than 40,000 tickets have been sold for the opening game at the Stadium of Light. The city's usual home of football, Sunderland AFC have played their home games there since the stadium opened in 1997. It has also played host to football internationals as recently as 2023, and to music concerts including Rihanna and Elton John.

Meanwhile, the Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday, 27 September, has been declared a sell-out. A total of 375,000 tickets have been sold for the tournament already, making it the biggest women’s World Cup tournament to date. Attendance at the last World Cup in New Zealand totalled 140,000.

Sandy Park is hosting seven Rugby World Cup fixtures starting this Saturday with France v Italy (KO 20:15).

Rugby World Cup fixtures at Sandy Park:

Saturday, 23 August - KO 20:15 - France v Italy

Sunday, 31 August - KO 14:00 - New Zealand v Japan/KO 16:45 France v Brazil

Saturday, 6 September - KO12:00 - Canada v Scotland/ KO 14:45 Wales v Fiji

Saturday, 13 September - KO 13:00 - Winner pool C v Runner-up pool D quarter-final

Sunday, 14 September -  KO 13:00 - Winner pool D v Runner-up pool C quarter-final

Tickets available from www.rugbyworldcup.com