As the final whistle blew in the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup final, the joy of the Red Roses was only matched by the sense that the game has entered a new dimension.

More than 80,000 people flocked to Twickenham to watch England take on Canada on the world’s biggest stage, a new world record attendance for a women’s game.

And the match lived up to the billing as the Red Roses sat on top of the world for the first time in 11 years, going some way to avenging the heartbreak of their final defeat in 2022.

The final scoreline of 33-13 was a reflection of just how well England played, saving their best performance for the most important game.

Ellie Kildunne is already a superstar, and it was her stunning solo try that got England going after they had been hit by an early Canadian try.

From there, England’s pack seized control, dominating at scrum-time, winning important penalties at the breakdown and disrupting the Canadian lineout.

Even when Hannah Botterman was sent to the sin-bin and Canada got back to within two scores, the Red Roses defence held strong to keep them at bay.

Alex Matthews, part of the last England team to win the World Cup back in 2014, then wrapped it up with her second try 10 minutes from time, extending the Red Roses’ winning streak to 33.

Under John Mitchell, they have become the standard bearers, not only for rugby but across all sports, and now have the one title that had eluded them in recent years.

But this tournament was about more than just the England team. Fans poured into grounds across the country to watch the world’s best female players in action.

While they were beaten in the final, Canada took huge strides and are deservedly number two in the world, while South Africa look to be a team on the rise after reaching the quarter-finals for the first time.

Of the other home nations, Ireland were edged out by France in the closest of all the knockout matches, beaten 18-13, having led by two scores after a great first-half showing.

Scotland also enjoyed their best tournament in nearly 20 years, including a record win over Wales three years after a last-gasp defeat to the same opponents had cost them a quarter-final spot.

For Wales, under new coach Sean Lynn, this was a tougher campaign, ending in defeat to Fiji. But after his hat-trick of Premiership Women’s Rugby titles with Gloucester Hartpury, Lynn has shown that he knows how to get the best out of players and with more time, he should get Wales firing.

The challenge now is to use this incredible springboard to kick the game onwards, with the inaugural Howden Lions Women’s Tour set to take centre stage in 2027.

Up against the Black Ferns, who finished their campaign on a high by beating France in the third-place play-off, the Lions will head to New Zealand to break new ground.

Having inspired so many young players to pick up the game with this World Cup, the excitement for 2027 is only just beginning.