Rugby World Cup – World Rugby Reports Reveal £294.7m Financial Gain from RWC 2025

World Rugby has released two publications confirming that the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 has fundamentally reshaped the sport’s commercial and strategic landscape.

The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Impact Report and the Impact Beyond 2025 Global Impact Report revealed that the tournament delivered a massive EURO294.7 million (AUD482.1 million) economic boost to England, with more than 80% of that value generated outside of London.

The event, hosted across eight cities including Sunderland, Exeter, and Manchester, broke every major performance metric for the women’s game. Total ticket sales reached 444,465, tripling the attendance of the 2021 edition, culminating in a world-record crowd of 81,885 for the final at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham.

Commenting on the released publication, World Rugby chair, Brett Robinson, said: “Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 was a phenomenal celebration of our sport.”

“It inspired new audiences, set new benchmarks for excellence, and proved what our game can deliver when we invest boldly in women’s sport,” Robinson said.

Commercial Surge and Media Value

The tournament served as a powerful proof of concept for investors and governments. Unprecedented visibility drove a 330% increase in sponsorship revenues compared to the previous cycle. Key commercial highlights include:

• Media Value: The tournament delivered EURO201 million (AUD331 million) in media value for its partners.
• Global Reach: Broadcast viewing hours surged by 336% to 147 million hours, while social media impressions surpassed the one billion mark.
• Partner Retention: Four out of five Principal Partners have already extended their commitment to women’s rugby following the tournament’s success.

Global Legacy: The ‘Impact Beyond’ Program

While the economic impact was concentrated in England, the strategic legacy has a global footprint. Through the Impact Beyond 2025 program, more than 35,500 teenage girls took up rugby across 42 unions, including emerging markets such as Nigeria and Laos.

The report also highlighted a record 32% female coach representation at the tournament, up from 15% in 2021, fuelled by the Gallagher High Performance Academy.

With the 2025 cycle complete, World Rugby is now turning its attention to Australia for the 2027 Men’s RWC and 2029 Women’s RWC, using the “England Model” of regional distribution and purpose-led marketing as the blueprint for future growth.

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