As the excitement builds for the opening game of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in Sunderland tonight, Newcastle Rugby Foundation is proud to reflect on our role as Community Engagement Programme Partners for the tournament.

Over the past few months, we’ve been out in schools, clubs, and communities delivering rugby taster sessions, festivals, and engagement activities ranging from our coveted Summer of Touch – a weekly touch rugby tournament based at Kingston Park, to a series of rugby festivals on the most popular beaches in the North East and a collection of Schools Festivals.

In just six months, we have already made waves in the local rugby community and the numbers are there to prove it.  

• Total reached: 1,494 people 
• Male: 404 
• Female: 602 
• New to rugby: 342 people – including primary school children and SEND participants introduced to the game for the very first time. 

The results speak volumes about the passion and potential for rugby in our region, and this impact has only been possible thanks to a true community effort.

The great thing for us as a Foundation is that we have another 12 months of the legacy project to further our impact, capitalise on the influence the World Cup has had in this region and improve the lives of disadvantaged people in our communities. 

We’d like to give special thanks to: 

• North East Combined Authority and Sunderland City Council for appointing us as a trusted body to lead this vital work. 
• The RFU, and in particular Northumberland Rugby and Durham Rugby for their fantastic support in spreading the word across local clubs. 
• Our dedicated coaches, local schools, and partnering organisations – including AK Teaching – for helping us deliver unforgettable rugby experiences. 

As the Red Roses face USA in Sunderland, we celebrate not only the start of a world-class sporting tournament, but also the powerful connections, opportunities, and inspiration created across our communities in the build-up.

Newcastle Rugby Foundation are proud of the impact we’ve made and even more excited about the legacy this World Cup will leave for the growth of the game in the North East.