Brighton has been selected as a host city for the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup to be held in England in 2025.

The Amex Stadium will once again stage rugby as one of eight stadiums to be selected for the upcoming tournament.

Having previously hosted international rugby in the Men’s World Cup in 2015, the stadium will once again welcome fans from across the globe for the prestigious tournament.

England and Saracens winger Jess Breach, who grew up in Chichester, said: “After 2015 with the boys, it’s amazing to have rugby come back to Brighton with the girls for the 2025 Rugby World Cup.

“Brighton is a brilliant seaside city where I played when I was younger which makes it even more exciting. Hopefully we will see a lot of you there in 2025.”

The Amex previously hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and was the site of one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history when underdogs Japan beath South Africa in the dying seconds of the game.

Brighton has also been a host for international women’s sport more recently, having welcomed the Lionesses on their road to football glory in the Women’s Euros in 2022.

Other venues selected to host games in the 2025 tournament include Twickenham, Manchester’s Salford Community Stadium and the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.


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The Red Roses narrowly lost 34-31 to New Zealand in the final of the most recent Women’s World Cup in 2022.

Brighton and Hove Albion chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber said: “We’re delighted to be chosen as one of the eight host venues for Rugby World Cup 2025.

“The men’s game in the 2015 World Cup when Japan beat South Africa was one of the most amazing days we’ve had at the stadium and I’m sure the matches we host in 2025 will create many more lasting memories.

“Our women and girls programme is an integral and hugely important part of our commitment to women’s football at the club and we’re delighted to extend that support for women’s sport to world-class rugby too.

“We look forward to welcoming the teams and the supporters attending the Rugby World Cup in 2025 and to showcasing our stadium and the city of Brighton and Hove.”

Brighton and Hove city councillor Alan Robins said: “We are delighted once again to have been selected to showcase women’s sport at the highest level.

“Having hosted the Lionesses during their journey to becoming European Champions last year, it will be wonderful to welcome rugby players and fans from around the world in 2025.

“Being a host city for the Women’s Rugby World Cup brings with it a fantastic opportunity to open up more opportunities for women and girls to play as well as involve local people in the tournament and enhance our growing reputation as a major sporting city.”

The Women’s World Cup will kick off on August 22, 2025, with England already qualified for the event.