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England Name Unchanged XV as Women’s Rugby World Cup Opens Before Record Crowd

An expanded 16-team event offers free BBC coverage, unprecedented ticket sales, a sold-out Twickenham final.

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Overview

  • England face the United States on August 22 at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, with roughly 40,000 expected for a record World Cup opener.
  • Coach John Mitchell retains the lineup that beat France 40-6, with veteran Emily Scarratt included among the replacements.
  • USA head coach Sione Fukofuka names a 23 featuring 11 World Cup debutants, including centre Ilona Maher.
  • All 32 matches will be shown free-to-air on the BBC across the UK, while overall ticket sales have surpassed 375,000 and the final at Twickenham is reported sold out.
  • The tournament expands to 16 teams across eight venues designed for wide access, as coverage highlights resource gaps such as Rugby Canada nearing a $1 million fundraising goal to fund preparations.