August 2018
Sports fans are a step closer to seeing the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup on Australian soil following today’s naming of the Hunter region as the proposed host location.
Sports Minister Stuart Ayres today joined Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald, Chief Executive of Rugby Australia Raelene Castle, 10 World Cup Chairman Rod McGeoch and Wallaroos Emily Robinson, Grace Hamilton and Emily Chancellor to unveil details of the bid to bring the sporting blockbuster to Newcastle and Maitland.
“We are committed to attracting world class sporting events not only for Sydney but regional New South Wales. Securing the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup puts women’s sport front and centre in achieving our 10 World Cups in 10 years strategy,” Mr Ayres said.
“This bid aligns with our commitment to foster the growth of women’s sport and follows on from the success of the Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2017 and the 2017 Women’s Ashes Series in NSW.”
Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Adam Marshall said: “Hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup for the first time in the southern hemisphere will inject close to $23 million into the NSW economy.”
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said: “The Hunter has a long history of supporting rugby and women’s sport, so the bid for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup is the perfect amalgamation of the two.”
Rugby Australia Chief Executive, Raelene Castle said: “The Women’s Rugby World Cup is the pinnacle event in women’s XVs Rugby and we will show the world once again that Australia is unrivalled when it comes to delivering major sporting events.
“We have more women and girls playing Rugby than ever before and we continue to see double-digit growth in participation in both our Sevens and XVs formats of the game. Hosting the tournament would provide us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase the best of the women’s game to the Australian public.”
World Rugby will announce the winning host nation in November this year.