Sunderland City Council Leader Michael Mordey has made clear that the Stadium of Light hosting the opening match if the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup will show the “true” Sunderland, following the recent riots in the city. Mordey was present along with other dignitaries to mark the one year countdown to the opening match featuring the Red Roses. Daniel Wales reports.
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00:00At a sunny stadium of light, several dignitaries were in attendance to promote the opening
00:06match of the Women's Rugby World Cup featuring the Red Roses in a year.
00:12So yeah, Women's Rugby World Cup is going to kick off in Sunderland in 12 months' time,
00:17one year to go, till this amazing spectacle launches here. And not only Sunderland, we
00:21are going around the country. So the idea was that we would make sure we're in every
00:25single region of England. So as many people as possible can engage with the tournament,
00:30follow the amazing athletes that we will have on the pitch and really start to grow the
00:35sport and for women and girls to be inspired to either take part, to engage and watch and
00:40follow women's rugby.
00:43For Sunderland AFC, the chance to host such an occasion was an obvious benefit to Chief
00:47Business Officer David Bruce.
00:50Well, listen, for us we're keen to bring mega events to Sunderland. So whether it's a concert,
00:56whether it's another sporting event, it's really important for the football club to
00:59be able to put that on for the city, for the people in the city. But of course, with anything
01:04like this, there's going to be some commercial benefit to the football club. So things like
01:08facility fees and the opportunity to share in revenue and other parts of the event are
01:14important to the club. But for us, it's about being able to be host to a world-class event.
01:18So that's what I think we're most looking forward to.
01:20Sunderland has recently seen violence and disorder on its streets. But City Council
01:25leader Michael Mordy was adamant that this event would bring the city together.
01:28I think we always want to build cohesive communities. We've witnessed a terrible event in recent
01:36weeks and I think the vast majority of residents in Sunderland don't recognise what we've seen
01:43on our streets a few weeks back. And it's events like the Rugby World Cup in a year's
01:47time that show Sunderland in its true sense, what we are proud of, a welcoming, inclusive,
01:54diverse city.
01:55Former England Women's footballer Karen Carney was also in attendance to show her advocacy
02:00for the North East, as well as the athletes who will be on show.
02:05We've had two Lionesses games here and the last one I think we got 43,000 here in 2023.
02:11Like you said, this area produces so many talented athletes and you mentioned the Lionesses
02:17are so many that have come through from this region. So, yeah, it's got a sporting feel
02:22and so it's a right fitting for the Red Roses to be here in that opening game.
02:25Well, I trained with quite a few of them back in Birmingham, so it would be Mo, Skaz, Sarah
02:31Hunter, Sunter as we called her. So, you know, I trained with these women a few years back
02:36and got to see how incredible they are as athletes, but also as people.
02:41Finally, Sarah Massey made clear just why the event will be so special.
02:45You're going to see some amazing rugby being played on this pitch by some incredible athletes
02:49and I would say it's going to be too big to miss. Don't miss out. Buy your tickets. We
02:53go on sale 24th of September and they're going to go fast.