World Rugby has unveiled the eight venues for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England two years out from the start of the showpiece tournament.
According to the World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont, it will be the first time many sites stage matches at a Women's Rugby World Cup, with the tournament increasing to 16 teams from 12 in August and September 2025.
"Following the record-breaking success of Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand, women's rugby has built an incredibly strong foundation and as one of the fastest growing sports in the world, RWC 2025 is set to take the game to the next level as the biggest celebration of women's rugby with fans and players very much at its heart."
The venues include Sandy Park and Ashton Gate, the home grounds of southwest clubs Exeter and Bristol, with Northampton's Franklin's Gardens and the Salford Community Stadium, Sale's base, also staging matches.
But the competition will also feature matches at football stadiums, such as Brighton's headquarters and Sunderland's Stadium of Light, where they play in the Championship.
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Matches will also be held at York's Community Stadium, the football and rugby league teams' home field.
Twickenham, the London-based home of English rugby, will host the final, and organisers anticipate a capacity crowd of more than 80,000 spectators.
That would surpass the 58,498 spectators who saw England's Women's Six Nations title-deciding victory against France at Twickenham in April, which now holds the world record for a women's game.
England's governing Rugby Football Union will hope their women can go one better on home soil after New Zealand defeated the Red Roses in last year's World Cup final at Eden Park, Auckland.
New Zealand, England, Canada and France have already qualified for the 2025 edition by finishing in the top four of the 2021 World Cup, delayed a year by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The remaining positions will be filled via World Rugby's new women's international 15s tournament, WXV, and regional competitions in 2024.
