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Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy visits Bristol
Preparations for the Women’s Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2025 are well underway. In just under three months’ time, England will kick off the Women’s RWC with their opening match against the USA on August 22.
Excitement around the country is already rising as the eight host cities make their final preparations. Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium will host four matches in total: two quarter finals and both semi-finals.
The Women’s RWC 2025 trophy is currently on a tour around the host cities.
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Over the next three weeks it will journey to London, Brighton, Hove, Exeter, Bristol, Northampton, Manchester, York and Sunderland, bringing fans and communities closer to the tournament in the build-up to kick-off.
Bristol Bears players Sarah Bern and Jas Joyce-Butchers pose with the Women’s RWC trophy – photo: Kashvi Cox
On Friday morning, the trophy made an appearance at Clifton Observatory.
It was joined by two Bristol Bears stars, Sarah Bern and Jas Joyce-Butchers, who posed with the trophy as it shone in the morning sun.
Fans will have the unique opportunity to get up close to the Women’s RWC trophy during an event on Saturday.
It will be showcased at a have-a-go session with the Bristol Bears Women team on College Green.
After finishing the Six Nations in April, the players are moving swiftly on to preparations for the World Cup.
Bern, who will be playing for England and has recently signed a contract extension with the Bears, is looking forward to England’s official warm-up camp, which she says will begin in a week’s time.
Meanwhile Joyce-Butchers, who will be playing for Wales, is excited for her parents and family to be able to come and watch her this time, given they could not attend the previous World Cup in New Zealand. She added: “for us to have home support in our games is going to be fantastic.”
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The Women’s RWC is going to be a defining moment for the women’s game, showcasing female talent from across the globe in stadiums all across England.
Ticket sales have already doubled that of the last tournament, reaching over 300,000.
Sally Horrox, director of Women’s Rugby at World Rugby, wants this to be “not just the biggest, but the most accessible World Cup ever”.
A new set of tickets are now on sale with prices starting at just £10 for adults and £5 for children – making it easier than ever for everyone to be part of this historic moment for women’s sport.
Horrox and her team at World Rugby are working hard to deliver “a family friendly atmosphere” and the best fan experience possible.
She said their work is all about creating “the buzz and the energy” that will boost the competing teams and encourage the public to engage with the exceptional array of talent on display this summer.
Local councillors, the lord mayor and the lord- lieutenant posed alongside Women’s Rugby director Sally Horrox (far left) and Visit Bristol CEO Kathryn Davis (far right) – photo: Kashvi Cox
The Women’s RWC is also going to be a memorable moment for Bristol.
Kathryn Davis, Visit West CEO, put in the bid for hosting during lockdown. She was part of the trophy tour on Friday, commenting that “it was an especially proud moment seeing the trophy here today”.
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I was curious to know what it was like transitioning from playing club rugby to playing for England. Bern explained that Bristol’s style is “all about moving the ball, creating space and trying to run with it (the ball) whereas England is more hard-hitting. It is a more kicking, territory kind of game”.
While it can be tough to make these adjustments to differing styles of rugby, Bern said: “everyone on international pitch steps up and is there to do their best.”
Away from the rugby pitch, Bern enjoys exploring Bristol’s many food and drink spots.
She encourages visitors to try out the many independent cafes and restaurants on offer, listing Mokoko, Little Victories and Catley’s as some of her favourites.
England and Bristol Bears player Sarah Bern named Catley’s as one of her favourite cafes in Bristol – photo: Kashvi Cox
The Women’s RWC 2025 is going to bring some big names close to home.
The trophy tour is already getting the excitement going and, with the amount of planning in place, the tournament is sure to be a real success. It is events like this that will really help to move rugby and women’s sport forwards.
Bern concluded: “The game has changed massively since I started. We are playing in stadiums and selling out stadiums, which is fantastic. We have huge fan bases and some superstars in the game.”
Tickets are now back on general sale, available at www.tickets.rugbyworldcup.com/
For the latest tournament updates and fixture details, visit www.rugbyworldcup.com/2025/en
Main photo: Rob Browne
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