The Women’s Rugby World Cup has kicked off with a bang, smashing viewership and attendance records on its opening weekend and proving the surging interest in women’s sport. A total of 4.6 million viewers tuned in to the live coverage on the BBC, a figure that surpasses the entire viewership of the 2021 World Cup, which was played in 2022.

The remarkable numbers were spearheaded by England’s dominant 69-7 victory over the United States on Friday. The opening match of the tournament drew a peak audience of 2.4 million on One, with an additional 600,000 streams on iPlayer. This single match alone captivated nearly as many viewers as the final of the previous tournament.

Adding to the weekend’s success, Scotland’s 38-8 triumph over Wales saw a peak audience of 1.2 million on One, while Ireland’s 42-14 win against Japan attracted a peak of 534,000 viewers on BBC Two. Overall, the tournament recorded 2.1 million streams across BBC iPlayer and the Sport website and app during the first weekend of matches.

The record-breaking viewership was mirrored by a historic turnout at the stadium. The opening match between England and the USA at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland broke the all-time attendance record for a Women’s Rugby World Cup game, with 42,723 fans filling the stands.

“It’s been a historical summer for women’s sport and BBC Sport is proud to have been at the heart of it,” said Director of Sport, Alex Kay-Jelski. “These record-breaking figures for the opening weekend… show the growing passion and interest of fans across the UK.”

New Zealand international and Sport pundit, Ruby Tui, summarized the mood, stating, “If you could buy shares in women’s rugby, it would be your number one investment right now.”

With all four home nations competing and every match available on the platforms, the tournament is poised to continue breaking records and captivating audiences, further cementing the status of women’s rugby on the global stage.