Fiji Sun

Record Crowd in Women’s Rugby World Cup Final

It’s set to attract yet another world record crowd at Eden Park when the Black Ferns take on the Red Roses in a rematch of the 2017 final.

-

Rugby World Cup 2021 final at Eden Park on Saturday, 12 November set to attract yet another world record crowd following nail-biting semifinal victories for England and New Zealand.

Almost 8,000 tickets snapped up immediatel­y after final whistle.

While current seating is almost entirely allocated, a review of remaining space is underway as organisers look to release every last seat for fans.

England and New Zealand to face off in second consecutiv­e Rugby World Cup final at 7:30pm, with New Zealand on the hunt for a record sixth title and the first in front of a home crowd.

Canada and France in battle for bronze final at 4:30pm.

New Zealand and England have booked their place in the Rugby World Cup 2021 final after two nail-biting semi-final matches left fans on the edge of their seats and with their fingers on the button ready to snap up the few remaining tickets to next week’s big dance.

Organisers reported an unpreceden­ted surge in ticket sales immediatel­y after the final whistle as the Black Ferns claimed a last-gasp 25-24 victory over France to secure a fairytale home final.

Almost 8000 tickets to the finals day at Eden Park on Saturday, 12 November were snapped up last night, leaving just a handful of seats remaining and signalling yet another world record crowd for women’s rugby expected as New Zealand’s Black Ferns contest a sixth Rugby World Cup final, but their first ever on home soil.

Organisers are working to exhaust all available capacity in the 40,000seat stadium as demand for tickets reaches fever pitch. While current seating is almost entirely allocated, a review of remaining space is underway as organisers look to release every last seat for fans.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “Rugby World Cup 2021 has proven to be a triumph for rugby, women’s sport and New Zealand. On and off the field records have tumbled, personalit­ies have been projected and barriers smashed as the stars of women’s rugby have shone brightly, underscore­d by two incredible semifinals.

“People make great events and

New Zealanders have been amazing – the team behind the teams. My message to them is don’t miss out, snap up the last tickets, turn on your television­s, engage in social media and let’s make history together – the greatest women’s rugby event ever and an inspiratio­n for girls and boys to get into rugby.”

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2021

Tournament Director, Michelle Hooper said: “What we saw during the semi-finals was arguably the greatest spectacle of internatio­nal rugby this country has seen in a very long time. Those two matches have had an immeasurab­le impact on the game that we may not see the true results of until generation­s to come when young girls and boys will talk about those moments. What’s more, there’s still a week to go.

“We could not have written a better script than to have the host team, the Black Ferns, competing in a Rugby World Cup final for the first time ever at home in front of whanau and friends, and against the number one team in the world – England.

“I know all New Zealanders and fans watching around the world share in my anticipati­on for next week and we saw evidence of that immediatel­y after the final whistle when our ticketing system was almost at the brink trying to keep up with demand. These teams deserve legendary support next Saturday and we encourage fans to get together and get behind their team, host watch parties at home, or if you’re lucky enough to be in the stadium, get loud and cheer on these wahine as loud as you can for the final time this Rugby World Cup.”

Opening match day at Eden Park on Saturday, 8 October saw 34,235 fill the stands, setting a world record for attendance at a women’s rugby match-day and a New

Zealand record for the largest crowd ever at a standalone women’s sporting event.

Rugby World Cup 2021 has so far attracted 107,600 fans, the most of any women’s Rugby World Cup, across the three match venues in Auckland and Whangarei and five weeks of competitio­n.

 ?? ?? Ellie Kildunne and Helena Rowland of England at the women’s Rugby World Cup. England are ranked number one in the women’s division. England faces New Zealand in the final. Photo: World Rugby
Ellie Kildunne and Helena Rowland of England at the women’s Rugby World Cup. England are ranked number one in the women’s division. England faces New Zealand in the final. Photo: World Rugby
 ?? ?? Amy Rule (3) of New Zealand with fans at the women’s Rugby World Cup. New Zealand will take on England in the final. Photo: World Rugby
Amy Rule (3) of New Zealand with fans at the women’s Rugby World Cup. New Zealand will take on England in the final. Photo: World Rugby

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Fiji