"They think it's all over. And finally, for England's women, it is now. The last time the Red Roses lifted the World Cup was 11 years ago and defeat on home turf in front of a world-record 81,885 crowd would have been beyond devastating. Hence the tears of relief and shared collective joy at the final whistle as they finally brought the big one home. Among other things this trophy has brought them the validation they dearly wanted and, in truth, needed."
"Since the introduction of full-time professional contracts in 2019, the Red Roses have won 74 of the 76 matches they have contested. The number of registered female participants in Canadian rugby would barely fill half of England's towering citadel. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity the hosts simply could not afford to squander and their pack, in particular, enthusiastically grabbed it with both hands."
"Inclusive, happy audiences, a feelgood vibe ... this tournament genuinely does seem to have captured the public imagination. Out on the concourses there were significantly more young children and teenage girls than normal. And, perhaps most noticeably of all, an awful lot more hair than Twickenham crowds usually possess. Gone were the waxed jackets and bald heads of middle England, replaced by cowgirl hats and ponytails. Goodbye, Barbour; hello, Barbie."
England's Red Roses won the World Cup at Twickenham, their first in 11 years, securing victory before a world-record crowd of 81,885. The win brought visible relief and collective joy and provided long-sought validation after the introduction of full-time professional contracts in 2019, during which the team won 74 of 76 matches. The hosts converted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity through dominant forward play and an assured 80-minute performance. The tournament attracted inclusive, diverse audiences with notably more young girls and families, shifting traditional Twickenham demographics. Celebrations followed across the city, reflecting a broader summer surge in interest in women's sport.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]