Celebration of women in sport as Rugby World Cup fever builds in the city
As excitement grows in the city ahead of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, members and supporters of Hove Rugby Club celebrated women leaders in their sport at their home ground on Saturday, January 25.
Council Leader Bella Sankey was among the guests who gathered at the club to cheer on the Hove Women’s team, who took on Hampstead in an RFU Women's Championship, South East 2 league match.
The match was a taste of things to come this summer, as the city gears up to welcome teams from Australia, New Zealand and Ireland in the World Cup. They will join England’s Red Roses for matches at Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium in September.
Fantastic platform
“I was delighted to be invited to join the teams and fans at Hove Rugby club and witness the passion for women’s rugby in our city,” said Cllr Sankey.
“Hosting Women’s Rugby World Cup matches this summer provides us with a fantastic platform to build on this passion and encourage many more women and girls to get involved in sport. With clubs like Hove on the doorstep, there are some wonderful opportunities for players of all ages.”
Fascinating history
Local women’s rugby has a fascinating history, with Hove among the longest continually running women's rugby teams in the country. The first game was played in 1990 when mums, wives and girlfriends of the club’s male players formed a team of their own.
Over the years, the club has grown and now boasts 2 women's teams and four girls’ teams and women’s touch rugby team all playing at Hove Recreation Ground.
Saturday’s game has entered the history books, as it’s the first time a match has been played by two teams with women chairs – Deborah Crossan from Hampstead and Geraldine Brown, who has been chair of Hove Women’s Rugby Club for the past nine years.
Brilliant!
Geraldine, who is also believed to be the first female club chair in English rugby, said: “Having been involved in women’s rugby for more than 30 years, it is brilliant for me to see the increased profile of the game as we head into hosting the Women’s World Cup in September.
"I hope it will encourage more women and girls to try rugby.”
Saturday’s guests also included Sussex RFU president Bruce Hayter and chair Alan Croucher, along with county volunteers responsible for running girls’ rugby competitions across the county.
Members of the Brighton and Hove Sea Serpents, a men's gay and inclusive team who use the club’s facilities, were in attendance, along with their president, chair and supporters, for a team game against the Berkshire Unicorns.
There were also representatives from Hove Rugby Club sponsors Aligne. The fashion brand has recently been shortlisted in the Industry Fashion Awards for Best Community for its Women in Sport campaign, which featured England Rugby players and members of the Hove team.
Sadly, it wasn’t Hove’s day, with an on-form Hampstead team winning 26-7.
Register for tickets
Thousands of tickets have already been snapped up for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Brighton & Hove matches. These will take place on:
Saturday 6 September: England v Australia
Sunday 7 September: New Zealand v Ireland
The next opportunity to buy tickets will be on 25 February. Fans are encouraged to register their interest at Tickets | Women's Rugby World Cup 2025.
