Latest news with #WomensRugbyWorldCup
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Athlete's challenge to deliver Women's Rugby World Cup whistle
A wheelchair athlete is attempting to set a brand new world record by completing 10 ultramarathons in 10 Chambers, from Exeter, will use her standard everyday wheelchair to travel from Twickenham to Sunderland and deliver the match whistle for the opening game of the Women's Rugby World Cup on the 22 said: "It's quite overwhelming for a huge women's rugby fan. There couldn't be a bigger honour and I'm just absolutely completely gobsmacked that they chose me to do it... I just hope I do them proud."She said she was "having to start a new world record" as no-one had set it before. 'Never give up' Ms Chambers said: "An ultra marathon is anything over a marathon distance. "The general accepted distance is about 50km (31 miles), so I'm actually going to be doing just over 50km every single day."Ms Chambers has fibromyalgia and complex regional pain syndrome - with the latter resulting in her leg being amputated."You do get tough days when you're in pain all the time, you get days when you're low. If you remember 'never give up' it gets you through."She said when completed this would be her sixth world record."They [the records] are amazing... they do mean quite a lot to me. "They help me show people what they can achieve too." A Guinness World Records spokesperson said: "Lexi's the only woman we know of who has hit such incredible milestones using a non-racing wheelchair."During the challenges, Ms Chambers said: "Everything hurts to be honest, even though I don't use my legs obviously, even they hurt, which is quite bizarre. "I think the obvious places are things like my shoulders, my chest actually gets a lot of work because you're leaning forward quite a lot."But yeah, my whole body ends up hurting after 50km. But you don't stop, you just want to keep doing more." 'Close to my heart' The Guinness spokesperson added: "There's no existing record under the title "most ultramarathon distances completed in a non-racing wheelchair in one week". "It's not a category we've monitored previously, but the application has been submitted to be processed [by Lexi].Ms Chambers said: "Although I'm doing 10 ultramarathons in 10 days, they actually have certain time frames that you're allowed to do a record in. "So for the actual record purpose it's going to be most completed in seven days."Ms Chambers is raising money for the ChildFund Rugby said the charity was "really close to my heart" and helps children get into rugby and provides them with life skills.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Anne-Marie to perform at opening show of Women's Rugby World Cup
Anne-Marie will headline the opening show of the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, performing at Sunderland's Stadium of Light, ahead of the England vs USA opening match. (Image: Supplied) Global pop star Anne-Marie will headline the opening show of the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 in the North East, it has been revealed. The performance will take place at Sunderland's Stadium of Light, just before England faces the USA in the tournament's opening match, on August 22 . Advertisement Fans can purchase tickets now through The show is presented by O2, and O2 and Virgin Media broadband customers can enter a ballot for a chance to meet Anne-Marie through the Priority app until August 4. Anne-Marie said: "I'm so excited to perform at the Opening Show presented by O2 and be part of this massive moment for women's sport. "Now that I've got a daughter of my own, it means even more to be involved in something that shows the next generation that they can do anything. "I know Sunderland is going to be going crazy, and I can't wait to be part of it." Advertisement Sarah Massey, managing director of the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, said: "Anne-Marie is an exciting British singer-songwriter celebrated for her powerful vocals, dynamic performances, and genre-blending pop hits, and we are thrilled that she will be opening Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 on 22 August in Sunderland. "Her music often delves into themes of empowerment, love, and personal growth, resonating with what rugby brings to its communities around the world." Anne-Marie, known for chart-topping singles including 2002, Friends, and Rockabye, will bring her signature energy to a global stage. The performance is produced by Live Nation and marks the start of six weeks of international rugby, with 16 teams competing across eight venues in England. Advertisement READ MORE: Gareth Griffiths, director of partnerships and sponsorship at Virgin Media O2, said: "It's impossible to overstate the importance of this tournament for women's rugby, and the opening match is a landmark moment for sports fans everywhere. "O2 is proud to play its part as an official partner of the Women's Rugby World Cup, and to celebrate the opening match the best way we know how – bringing the worlds of music and sport together." More than 330,000 tickets have already been sold, with prices starting at £5 for children and £10 for adults.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Nine-year-old fan teams up with England star for new rugby mural
With the Women's Rugby World Cup just around the corner, fans are starting to get if you're a big rugby fan, what would be better than getting to meet one of the sport's stars? Getting a picture? Or, maybe, getting something signed?Well one fan - and rugby player - nine-year-old Ava-Mai, got an opportunity that arguably beats all of those, as she got to be painted in a giant mural with one of her mural is painted on the wall of the Harbourside Amphitheatre building in Bristol - which is one of the tournament's host cities - and sees Ava-Mai standing alongside Bristol Bears and England prop Sarah Bern. It's all part of a campaign by the Rugby Football Union - who oversea the sport in England - to try and encourage more girls to pick up a ball and try the went along with her family to see the giant artwork get said it feels "very cool" to be next to Sarah Bern in the picture and it makes her "feel very famous".She said: "If I try very hard maybe I can be a professional player just like Sarah Bern." The Women's Rugby World Cup starts August 22 in Sunderland as England take on is one of the eight host cities across the country that will show three rounds of Teasdale, who is in charge of the women's game at England Rugby, said they initially bid to host the World Cup because they wanted to grow women's and girl's said thousands of people will pass the mural during the World Cup and she hopes "it really inspires people to take part or go and watch the matches".
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Appeal to fill Brighton with knitted red roses for Rugby World Cup
People in Brighton and Hove are being asked to knit or crochet red roses to decorate the city, ahead of September's Women's Rugby World Amex stadium is one of eight venues hosting matches, with England playing Australia on 6 September and New Zealand playing Ireland the following knitting project has been inspired by the England squad using crochet as a team bonding roses will be used to decorate shop windows and other businesses from 25 August. Bella Sankey, the leader of the city council, said: "Brighton & Hove is well-known for being a creative city, and I'm sure all our knitters and crochet enthusiasts will enjoy supporting this colourful and quirky way to celebrate the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025."It will be lovely to see a whole bouquet of city centre business windows adorned with red roses later this summer, as we look forward to welcoming rugby fans from all over the world."Patterns can be downloaded here, and all finished items must be dropped off at Jubilee Library by 10 August.
BBC News
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Women's Rugby World Cup trophy in Sunderland ahead of opener
Excitement is mounting ahead of the first game of the Women's Rugby World will play host to the opening match of the tournament on 22 August, with England's Red Roses taking on the USA at the Stadium of the build-up to the event, the trophy will be displayed at Sunderland's Keel Square on 6 June from 12:00 BST to 16:00."Having the opening match here is a brilliant opportunity to showcase our city on the international stage," said Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council. The authority said the 2025 tournament had already sold more than twice the number of tickets compared to the last event in New Zealand four years competition's managing director Sarah Massey said: "[It] promises to be a landmark tournament for the sport and the trophy tour provides a brilliant opportunity to ignite excitement across England." Sunderland is the last city to publicly display the trophy, which has already been on display at the other seven host cities. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
