England defence coach Sarah Hunter knows how special winning a Rugby World Cup can be and she will be doing everything she can so that the Red Roses experience that ” life-changing” moment.

England face Canada in the final at a sold-out Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final on Saturday, an event which is set to have the highest attendance at a women’s rugby match ever.

The Red Roses will be bidding to overcome their 2022 heartbreak when they lost to New Zealand in the final, and their 2017 defeat to the same opponents in the showpiece.

Despite being one of the most dominant sides in world rugby, England last won the Rugby World Cup back in 2014, beating their 2025 opponents Canada 21-9 in France.

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Hunter was among those to make history for the Red Roses on that day and now wants to see those who have worked so hard for three years experience that triumphant life-altering moment on home soil.

“I think it would be life-changing for them,” former England captain Hunter told Sky Sports.

“To play in a home World Cup potentially is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We spoke before the tournament that this could be a game-changing moment that we look back on in history and see where the women’s game goes.

“That has certainly been the story so far, it has lived up to every expectation, not just for the Red Roses but for the game itself.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Abbie Ward opens up about the emotions of having her daughter pitchside as the Red Roses reach the Rugby World Cup final

Having now been a player and a coach, it has just made it sink in for Hunter how hard the current squad have worked to realise this moment again.

But, she knows they face a tough prospect in Canada, who knocked out the reigning champions New Zealand in the semi-finals.

“I think having the biggest ever crowd there has ever been for a women’s game on Saturday is incredible,” she added.

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“To be in that moment and to do the ultimate would be incredible.

“Now I am sitting on this side as a coach I have seen what these girls have gone through, how they have grown over three years on and off the pitch, and what a special group it is.

“Having been lucky enough to win a World Cup, I truly want nothing more than for them to be able to go and experience that moment on Saturday.

“We know it is going to be a tough fight and we know we are going to have to earn it to be in with a shot of lifting that trophy.”

What’s next?

England’s Red Roses face Canada in the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup final at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday September 27 (4pm kick-off).

France will face defending champions New Zealand earlier on the same day in the bronze final at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (12.30pm).

“Please, can my son swap jerseys with you? He speaks so highly of you, and it would be his dream.”

Number eight Aseza Hele received the message on social media before South Africa played their final pool game at the Women’s Rugby World Cup against France.

The 30-year-old struggled to comprehend why a young boy from England wanted the shirt of someone from the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

A hat-trick of tries against Brazil, followed by another score in a win over Italy that sent South Africa’s women into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, was why.

And Hele, a destructive runner who has been one of the stars of the tournament, was happy to oblige.

“When we finished playing [against France], I saw a big sign saying, ‘Hele, can I swap shirts with you?'” Hele told BBC Sport.

“I asked him to come through, and I said I’d meet him at the gate when I came out.

“I didn’t swap with any of the French girls because I had kept my shirt for him. And when I got there, he was waiting and smiling. That really warmed my heart. I thought ‘Aseza, you are doing good’.

“I’ve inspired young boys, not just girls. It warmed my heart to make someone’s dream come true.”

Once Hele finished that sentence, the tears started.

That moment in Northampton signified how far not only Hele has come, but South African women’s rugby as a whole.

Hele grew up in the same neighbourhood in Port Elizabeth as the Springboks’ two-time World Cup-winning men’s captain Siya Kolisi.

A place she described as one where a lot of “deep, deep things” happen.

Raised by her grandmother, Hele only started playing rugby in 2014, after joining a training session as a way to do some further running to stay fit for netball.

An injury meant an extra player was needed, and Hele was told that whatever happens, “just go forward”. She hasn’t looked back since.

A first Springbok cap came five years later, followed by her first World Cup appearance in 2022.

“Rugby has changed my life. I am the person I am today because of where I came from and the choices I made,” she added.

“Now, I’m able to feed my family because of rugby. I have my car because of rugby. My first flight was because of rugby.

“I didn’t even dream of this, and now I’m playing with the big dogs, and I am the underdog.”

Glamorgan will bid to crown a landmark season by becoming the first winners of the One Day Cup Women’s League 2 on Sunday.

They face Yorkshire in the inaugural final at Worcester’s New Road.

It has been a breakthrough campaign for Rachel Priest’s side, who have reached the latter stages of all competitions.

After a strong run in the T20 County Cup and a semi-final finish in the T20 Blast, they now have the chance to add silverware to an already positive season.

They will travel to Worcester with confidence, having beaten Yorkshire in the 50-over competition earlier this summer.

India’s 1983 World Cup victory will forever remain an epochal moment in the nation’s cricketing history. The triumph changed the contours of the sport and helped inspire a generation of future cricketers, brought in sponsorships and created a new fan base, whose passion has only gone upwards since.

The women’s team is aiming for a similar landmark moment as the ODI World Cup begins on September 30, with hosts India facing Sri Lanka in Guwahati. Former captain Diana Edulji recalled her own defining moment – India’s first-ever women’s Test win against the West Indies in Patna in 1976.

“Yes, definitely, I watched the whole game (1983 World Cup final). In 1976, we faced a similar situation when we won our first-ever Test match in Patna, when we beat West Indies (by five wickets). You won’t believe the adulation, the crowd, the frenzy we faced. It was so great. The 1983 World Cup was next level, absolutely. Men’s cricket, it is great to win a World Cup. After that, we had to wait for quite a few years before we could get hold of the trophy. Now the trophies are coming at a regular interval. So that is a good sign for cricket in India. It just shows that the administration is doing a good job. Our domestic structure, I think, is the best among all the countries, and that is why we are able to get the talent,” Edulji told The Indian Express on Saturday.

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Edulji also believed that victory in the 2025 women’s World Cup would change the “history and geography” of women’s cricket in India. She added that the triumph might help the next generation consider taking up cricket for a living.

“Definitely. People have been expecting this win since 2017, when we narrowly missed it. Every time, we get it right till the semifinals and then can’t cross that line. It is going to be difficult, but it will change the whole history and geography of women’s cricket, in this country atleast, and of course, BCCI is a power broker for cricket in the world. Also, with WPL, it will become more popular. It will be able to get more teams, more domestic cricket. More domestic cricketers will look into making women’s cricket a career,” she said.

The 69-year-old admitted that if India went on to win the 2025 World Cup, it would help remove a mental block that has been formed, owing to several narrow misses in the last few years.

“As of now, we have not been called chokers. But even in men’s cricket, South Africa, and even women, for that matter, South Africa women were also called chokers. They just could not get over that line. But as time goes by, I am sure, after this, if we cross the line this time, it will be absolutely great. If you come into the finals, then there is no looking back. Then you have to absolutely go more than 100 percent,” the former Committee of Administrators (CoA) member said.

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The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will play two games each at Visakhapatnam and Navi Mumbai and one game each in Guwahati, Indore and Colombo in the league stage of the tournament.

Viewership will skyrocket if India wins: Sudha Shah

Former India batter and Diana Edulji’s teammate Sudha Shah felt that if the Women in Blue went on to win the 2025 World Cup on home soil, interest and viewership would go through the roof. She also felt the triumph would help more girls take up the sport in the country.

“I think even the 2017 World Cup, where we lost the finals. I think that started, I guess, the viewership, the interest, everything went up from there. Now, if we win it, I think it will skyrocket, and you can see more girls playing. I think for us as old players, for whatever we started and where we will get there, I think it will be worth the journey,” Shah told The Indian Express.

Shah felt India’s women players had become household names with their exploits in the last few years. She believes that they have a good chance to win the title on home soil.

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”I think most of them have become household names across the country. It is not only if we win this World Cup. But I think after the 2017 World Cup, the exposure that the girls are getting now. Back then, there was no TV coverage; it was just a small news item in the paper. But now with all the coverage, both the media and electronic media. I think it will do a lot more for women’s cricket. I think everybody loves a winner. If you finish second, it is good. But a winner, that is what we are waiting for. I think it is a good opportunity since it is here in India. There will be pressure on them, playing in front of a home crowd, but I think it is a great opportunity for them to win.”

“It’s been 11 years of hurt. They’ve gone from heartbreak to happiness.”

For the first time since 2014 England have won a Rugby World Cup.

By beating Canada in front of a world record crowd at Twickenham, the Red Roses ended their run of two straight final losses and put to bed the ghost of 2022, the scene of their most heart-wrenching defeat.

“I have tears in my eyes. I am so proud of this England team,” Maggie Alphonsi, part of England’s most recent World-Cup winning side 11 years ago, told the BBC.

“What we did in 2014 was nothing. This is history.”

Three years ago England faced New Zealand in the final as overwhelming favourites, having won their past 30 Tests.

Despite going down to 14 players in the 18th minute, England led 26-19 at half-time and only fell 34-31 behind with nine minutes remaining.

The Red Roses had a chance at victory with one last line-out – their most potent weapon all tournament, but lost the throw as the clock ticked into the red.

That was the heartbreak.

Finally, against Canada on home soil, came the happiness.

England recovered from an early scare and never looked back as they overpowered Canada in a 33-13 win, the second largest margin of victory in a Women’s Rugby World Cup final.