WELLINGTON: New Zealand has been awarded the hosting rights of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021 by World Rugby. The country’s women’s team (also known as the Black Ferns) are the defending champions, having beaten England in the 2017 final in Belfast, Ireland.
The 2021 competition, which will be the ninth edition, is the first Women’s Rugby World Cup to take place in the southern hemisphere. Auckland and Whangarei on New Zealand’s North Island are the two cities zeroed down upon for the six-week tournament.
Following extensive hosting interest, the selection process saw New Zealand and Australia submit strong and compelling bids. A comprehensive evaluation report was produced for World Rugby Council to consider based on agreed hosting criteria.
The tournament follows the very special and record-breaking Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 in Ireland which had a hugely positive impact on women’s rugby. It was the best attended Women’s Rugby World Cup to date with a record total attendance of 45,412, the most viewed with Ireland, France, the UK and USA all recording unprecedented viewing figures, and also the most socially engaged, generating 45 million views across official tournament platforms.
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said: “Congratulations to New Zealand on being elected Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021 host. They presented a very strong and compelling bid and we look forward to working with New Zealand Rugby to host a successful and inspiring tournament.
“Women’s rugby continues to grow with more than 2.4 million women and girls playing rugby at all levels, accounting for more than a quarter of players globally. With Women’s Rugby World Cup attracting record crowds and broadcast audiences in each of the last three tournaments – Ireland 2017, France 2014 and England 2010 – I am in no doubt that the 2021 tournament, the first to be held in the southern hemisphere, will continue this record-breaking trend.
“I would also like to thank Australia for their exceptional bid. We hope to welcome Australia back to bid again in the future.”
New Zealand Rugby director and former Black Ferns captain Farah Palmer said: “We are honoured and excited to be awarded WRWC 2021 and look forward to delivering the first Women’s Rugby World Cup tournament in the southern hemisphere.
“The New Zealand Government strongly supported the bid, with backing from MBIE, Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED) and Whangarei District Council.
“We are looking forward to working together to deliver a world-class tournament for players, officials, fans, commercial partners and spectators watching around the world.”
The Women’s Rugby World Cup will the second high-profile sporting event that New Zealand is set to host at the start of the next decade as the country was declared the hosts of the Ironman World Championships 2020 as well recently.
