Springbok Women's Rugby: Viewership Records Smashed!
The Springbok Women, along with other international teams, are causing a stir in the world of rugby! The recent Women's Rugby World Cup has seen a massive surge in viewership, proving that the passion for women's sport is stronger than ever.
England's dominant victory over the United States in their opening match drew a peak audience of 2.4 million viewers on BBC One and another 600,000 on iPlayer. But the story doesn't end there! Across the weekend, a total of 2.1 million streams were recorded across BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.
Incredible numbers, right? A staggering 4.6 million viewers tuned in to the live coverage throughout the weekend. Scotland's 38-8 victory over Wales attracted a peak audience of 1.2 million, while Ireland's win against Japan drew 534,000 viewers.
During the first week of the tournament, a remarkable 3.2 million unique visitors accessed World Cup content on the BBC Sport website and app, with 1.2 million actively following the live text updates during the matches. This opening weekend's viewing figures have already surpassed the entire reach of the 2021 World Cup, which took place in 2022 and attracted 3.7 million viewers overall, including 1.8 million for the final.
The attendance record for the Women's Rugby World Cup was also shattered on opening night, with 42,723 fans witnessing England's impressive 69-7 victory over the USA. Alex Kay-Jelski, BBC Director of Sport, emphasized the historical summer for women's sport and the BBC's pride in being at the heart of it. He highlighted the growing passion and interest of fans and the opportunity to showcase the inspiring stories of these female athletes.
Ruby Tui, a New Zealand international and BBC Sport pundit, believes that investing in women's rugby is a smart move, stating, "If you could buy shares in women's rugby, it would be your number one investment right now." The future looks bright for the Springbok Women and women's rugby globally!