The countdown has officially commenced for the highly anticipated Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, and the Impact ’25 legacy programme has been launched in Northampton with great momentum. With just 500 days remaining until the kick-off, the introduction of Impact ’25 in Northampton has paved the way for a significant transformation in the women’s rugby landscape.
The upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup is poised to be the largest celebration of women’s international rugby, featuring a number of high-profile matches scheduled to be held at the esteemed Northampton Saints and Loughborough Lightning venues, attracting a global audience. To mark the 500-day milestone, local girls joined representatives from the Rugby Football Union (RFU), Northampton Saints, and West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens for the launch of Impact ’25.
The RFU’s ambitious multi-million-pound legacy programme aims to drive the growth of rugby across the country, in partnership with the UK Government, Sport England, and UK Sport. Impact ’25 is poised to deliver significant improvements in facilities and enhanced opportunities for females at all levels of the game. The programme has already secured a notable commitment of £12.13m of Government funding to support grassroots rugby for women and girls.
The event, hosted by Northampton Saints and Loughborough Lightning, featured non-contact rugby sessions for girls, led by Lightning players Daisy Hibbert-Jones, Emma Hardy, and Abby Duguid. Attendees also had the opportunity to view the ‘Heart of the Game’ Rugby World Cup trailer, produced by local sixth form students from the Bee Hive SEND vocational college for Northampton Film Festival.
Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of Northampton Saints, expressed his enthusiasm and pride in hosting the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. He underscored the increase in participation in women’s and girls’ rugby across the region and highlighted the establishment of a robust women’s rugby community in Northampton.
Cllr Adam Brown, Deputy Leader of WNC and Cabinet Member for Housing, Culture, and Leisure, shared his excitement about the upcoming tournament. He elaborated on the wide-ranging benefits that the Women’s Rugby World Cup will bring to the local area, from boosting the local economy to raising awareness about the unique rugby culture in West Northamptonshire.
The Impact ‘25 funding, which commenced in the 2022-23 season and will extend until 2025-26, has already made significant strides in supporting rugby clubs. Over a hundred clubs have received funding to upgrade their facilities, with a focus on providing better amenities for female players and creating a more inclusive environment. Additionally, numerous grants have been distributed to support the development and engagement of female coaches and match officials, while also encouraging the introduction of under 12s activity to attract more young girls to the sport.
Bill Sweeney, CEO of the RFU, expressed gratitude towards the Government for their commitment to the Impact ‘25 programme and their collaboration in creating a lasting legacy for women’s rugby in England. He underscored the importance of attracting more fans, players, coaches, officials, and volunteers to the women’s game, and looks forward to witnessing further progress over the coming months and years.
With the launch of Impact ’25 in Northampton and the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup, there is a palpable sense of anticipation and excitement for the transformative impact that these initiatives will have on women’s rugby, not just in Northampton but across England and the home nations.