The Rugby Football Union for Women and the Rugby Football Union is delighted to announce that England will host the 2010 IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup.
 
The prestigious tournament, which was last held in Edmonton, Canada in 2006, will be staged across West London and will showcase the top 12 international teams in world rugby. The RFUW and RFU fought off stiff competition from Germany, South Africa and Kazakhstan to host the 2010 event.
 
Since the first tournament in 1991 the Women's Rugby World Cup has been the catalyst for the tremendous growth in the women's game world wide. In England, as of the 2007/2008 season, there were 567 affiliated clubs playing rugby (senior and youth) and 12,302 women and girls playing the game.
 
In 2006 England reached the final of the Rugby World Cup, losing 25-17 to New Zealand. England are the reigning RBS 6 Nations triple Grand Slam Champions, European Cup and Nations Cup champions.
 

Rosie Williams, Managing Director of the RFUW, said:

“We are delighted to have been selected to host this great event. Hosting an international rugby tournament in London will be great for the growth and profile of women’s rugby. We have had some great support from UK Sport and Visit London and this has helped strengthen our bid. The infrastructure is in place at the RFU and we will host a world class tournament for players and spectators alike.”
 

England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street said:

 “This is fantastic news, not only for the England team, but it’s a real reward for all of the RFUW’s members and volunteers who have worked tirelessly within the game for a number of years. 
 
“Our structures are now producing some excellent players and results, and it will be fitting to assess them against the world’s best, at the greatest rugby competition of them all. The chance to play for the World Cup in front of our own supporters is incredibly exciting and will give us an even greater focus over the next two years.
 
“Our plan will be to produce the best women’s tournament so far and continue the impetus and growth within the game as we look forward to 2010 and beyond.”

Simon Morton, Events Consultant at UK Sport, said: “UK Sport’s investment highlights our continued desire to attract world-class women’s sport to our shores, with now around £500,000 invested in women-only events in 2010 alone. In addition, the event further cements our links with the rugby union community, having previously supported last year’s U19 World Championships in Belfast and the Junior World Championships which took place earlier this year in Wales. We are delighted the bid has been successful, and look forward to working with the RFU and RFUW on staging a World Cup of which we can all be proud.”