PWR: Season start delayed to cash in on World Cup
The next Premier League women’s rugby season will be delayed by three weeks as it looks to capitalize on a surge in interest sparked by the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
The current PWR season started on October 5 last autumn, but with the World Cup final later this year taking place at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on September 27, the next top-flight season will be held next year. It starts at the end of the month (i.e. October 25th).
The four-week gap is to allow star players to recover and give clubs time to prepare for new supporters.
Amy Walmsley, PWR League Operations Manager, said: “The Rugby World Cup is a generational moment for women’s rugby and will create a huge opportunity for PWR and our clubs to grow and Celebrate with the fans.”
“Optimal timing between the Rugby World Cup final and our first league game will ensure we take full advantage of what we already know is the biggest and best World Cup ever, while also ensuring players have the benefit of being well-rested throughout the season.”
The 2026 PWR Finals will also return to its usual June date.
The climax of this year’s domestic season will take place on March 16, as A streamlined schedule designed to maximize England’s chances of success at the World Cup.
This will allow England players to take a mandatory break at the end of the Women’s Six Nations in late April before entering training camp to prepare for the start of the World Cup on August 22.
The Red Roses, who lost to New Zealand in the last World Cup final, have won 50 of their last 51 games and are far ahead in the world rankings, and they are the team expected to achieve better results.
More than 220,000 tickets have been sold to date, with the final already oversubscribed and set to break the world record for the largest attendance ever for a women’s rugby match.
