Seriously, a whole World Cup, right here in Aotearoa.
When New Zealand hosted the Women’s Cricket World Cup earlier this year, much of the country was still recovering from a months-long lockdown. The organisation and execution of the tournament was clearly impacted by the pandemic, but it was a success nonetheless, with match content generating over a billion views across ICC channels.
Now, with large-scale events back and fans eager to get to matches, we’re about to host our first Rugby World Cup since 2011.
Wait, I thought that was next year? In France?
Yes… Rugby World Cup 2023 is happening France next year, but the Rugby World Cup 2021 (rescheduled from last year for the obvious reason) is happening here first. It’s the women’s Rugby World Cup, but it’s no longer officially called that – it’s just the Rugby World Cup now. Have you ever heard the men’s version being called the men’s Rugby World Cup?
OK, so when does this World Cup kick off?
The tournament kicks off on October 8 and runs until November 12. Games are only played on weekends, with each weekend holding around six games. Then there’s the quarter finals, semi finals, a third-place playoff and of course the grand final.
Fun! Is this a new tournament?
Absolutely not. The first women’s Rugby World Cup took place in 1991, only four years after the first men’s World Cup. It was held in Wales, with the US beating England in the final.
It wasn’t until 1998 that the Black Ferns first won the tournament. Since then, the team has won four more times, and they are the defending champions having won the most recent tournament in 2017.
New Zealand, the US and England are the only three teams in history to have won the tournament.
OK, sounds like we’re going to win this one too then?
Not so fast. The Black Ferns are currently ranked second in the world behind England who are, along with France, tipped as the current favourites to win.
With The Black Ferns yet to name all of their World Cup squad we still don’t know for sure who’s going to be on field.
Right, so how many countries are in this thing?
South Africa, France, Fiji, England, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Italy, Japan, Canada, Wales, and Scotland. That’s 12 teams.
Fiji defeated Samoa in the 2019 Oceania Rugby women’s final to qualify for the tournament, making this year their first Rugby World Cup. Fiji’s debut also makes them the 21st nation in history to be a part of the competition.
When is the first Black Ferns game and who are they playing?
The Black Ferns are scheduled to play at Eden Park on opening day (October 8) against our longstanding rival Australia.
Earlier this season the Ferns walloped the Australian Wallaroos 52-5 in Christchurch, but just a week later they only narrowly beat them 22-14. So that first match-up is shaping up as a must-watch.
I want to watch! Where do I get tickets?
Tickets are still available here, and one ticket option includes access to all three matches of the day. The lineup for opening day is South Africa vs France, Fiji vs England, and Australia vs New Zealand.
It starts pretty soon, are tickets still available?
Yes! There are currently tickets available for all 26 games in the tournament, including the final. Tickets start from the tiny amount of $5 for children and $10 for adults. These can be purchased from the Rugby World Cup 2021 website.
That’s really cheap. Almost too cheap?
It is really cheap but actually this will be the first time anyone will have to pay money to watch women play rugby in New Zealand (double-headers with the All Blacks don’t count).
Unfortunately I’m more of a music fan than a rugby fan…
Funny you should say that. Just last night it was announced that Rita Ora (most recently a tourist in New Zealand) will be performing at the opening day, Shapeshifter will be performing on semi-finals day and Benee will perform on finals day. If you’re frugal, you won’t these artists perform anywhere else for $10, which is the cost of a ticket to the triple-header opening day.
Has the (women’s) Rugby World Cup ever been held here?
This is the first time the women’s tournament is being held in Aotearoa – in fact it’s the first time it’s happening in the Southern Hemisphere. Games in Auckland will take place at both Eden Park and Waitakere Stadium in Auckland and at Whangārei’s Northland Events Centre aka Okara Park aka Semenoff Stadium.
Sadly there are no games in other cities so if you live further south, you’ll have to travel.
I don’t live in Auckland or Whangārei, can I watch the games on TV?
Yes, you can watch some of the games for free on Three, including the pool matches for the Black Ferns, quarter and semi-finals, and the final.
You can also watch all of the games, either live or on-demand, on Spark Sport.
How did I not know about all of this, it seems like it’s kind of a big deal?
That’s a question that probably requires more than one line to answer…