World Cup fever heads to Sunderland

England’s Red Roses tackle the USA within the thrilling opening match of the largest ever Women’s Rugby World Cup event on the Stadium of Light on Friday 22 August.

From vibrant bunting taking satisfaction of place in Keel Square, to Rugby World Cup banners on lamp posts and vivid crimson roses popping up on the home windows of companies throughout the town centre, Sunderland is moving into social gathering mode because it prepares to welcome 1000’s of followers from house and overseas.

Across the town in Southwick, closing touches are additionally being made to plans for the spectacular group carnival parade which can lead followers from the Keel Square Fan Village throughout the brand new Keel Crossing to the Stadium of Light on Friday afternoon forward of the match.

More than 500 folks, from babes in arms to folks of their 80’s together with sports activities and dance teams have already signed up to participate within the excessive power group parade. Expect an enormous spectacle of color and sound with an actual carnival really feel, with flags, superb brightly colored costumes with large feathered wings, elaborate headdresses, seahorses, not forgetting a number of sparkles and sound.

Accompanied by the Spark Drummers and 4 sound programs, the parade – lasting round 30-45 minutes – units off from the again of City Hall at 5pm earlier than making its means up St Mary’s Boulevard to Keel Square the place every of the dance teams will do a short efficiency earlier than heading throughout the brand new Keel Crossing adopted by 1000’s of rugby followers heading for the massive match.

The parade is being organised by Southwick primarily based inventive arts firm, Creative Seed, who work with communities throughout the town and the broader area on every thing from carnivals and parades to music and humanities occasions.

Sandy Harris from The Creative Seed CIC, stated: “We’re incredibly excited to bring one of our vibrant and colourful carnival parades to the Women’s Rugby World Cup Opening celebrations on the 22nd. As a local organisation, we’re so proud to be able to celebrate this wonderful event coming to Sunderland with some dancing, music and fun, and can’t wait to see you all there!”

Elsewhere within the metropolis, group teams have additionally been avidly ending vibrant knitted and crocheted crimson and white roses and bunting set to adorn railings alongside the town’s riverside sculpture path for the match weekend as a part of the nationwide Red Roses Yarn Art challenge.

Back on the Map volunteer Patsy Wilson is simply a kind of collaborating. Patsy, who co-ordinates Hendon group organisation’s Arts and Craft Group, stated: “I’ve never done anything like this before.  I just love knitting and I’m a great one for having a go. My 10-year-old granddaughter plays rugby at school and I think it’s great that girls are getting to take part in the sport more and that the Red Roses are getting the same TV time as the men.”

Other group teams collaborating embrace Sunderland Mind, Pallion Action Group, Sunderland People First and Crafting Connections at Lambton Hub in addition to a lot of particular person knitters.

Councillor Beth Jones Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism at Sunderland City Council, stated: “It’s wonderful to see so many people across our communities and businesses getting involved in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.

“There’s such a buzz within the metropolis the nearer we get to internet hosting the opening match and we have got a incredible programme of occasions lined up for subsequent week with one thing for everybody, so even in case you’re not a rugby fan it is value heading all the way down to the Keel Square Fan Village to absorb the environment and revel in a number of the fabulous free leisure on provide.

“I’m especially looking forward to the community fan parade on Friday afternoon, which promises to be a real spectacle of colour and sound, with more than 500 people, including dancers, sports groups and members of the community dressed up in fantastic costumes. It’s worth coming along for that and fireworks after the match alone.”

Events taking place within the metropolis within the week operating as much as the sport

Wednesday 20 August – Seaburn Beach Festival 

The construct as much as the spectacular opening weekend celebrations will get underway with a seashore pageant on Seaburn Beach from 2 pm on Wednesday 20 August. Newcastle Rugby Foundation might be taking up the sandy stretch reverse the busy promenade at Seaburn from 2pm, and there are two key slots that the general public can be part of at no cost:  

• 4 – 5.30 pm – Open Girls Rugby Session  – Girls aged 11-18 are invited to return alongside and check out rugby in a relaxed, enjoyable seashore setting. No expertise wanted – simply REGISTER HERE: http://bit.ly/3H2hf26 benefit from the recreation, with teaching from particular visitor coaches
• 5.30 – 8 pm – Beach Touch Rugby Festival – As the solar units over Seaburn, participate in a blended capability, age, and gender contact rugby pageant. Whether you are a seasoned participant or attempting it for the primary time, this session is all about enjoyable, group, and getting lively collectively. REGISTER A TEAM https://www.newcastlerugbyfoundation.co.uk/wrwc-countdown/

There will even be free giveways, reside leisure, face painters, balloon modellers, particular friends and enjoyable for all ages in addition to the chance to seize meals and drinks on the after social gathering/social going down in a non-public space inside STACK Seaburn, overlooking the seashore.  

Seaburn Beach Festival is the ultimate occasion in a sequence of seashore festivals held throughout the North East within the lead-up to the event. It has been organised by Newcastle Rugby Foundation in partnership with the North East Combined Authority. 

Thursday 21 August – Keel Square Rugby World Cup Fan Village

Get within the social gathering temper for the Rugby World Cup by visiting the free Fan Village in Keel Square within the coronary heart of the town centre when it opens at 4pm on Thursday, that includes an all feminine line up of musicians, via till 10pm that night time. The night will start with a panel dialogue on girls in sport and music at 4pm adopted by a stage programme curated by Music City, that includes:

• Cortney Dixon – 5.30pm – 6pm
• Shannon Pearl – 6.20pm – 7pm
• Lottie Willis 7.20pm – 8pm
• Kay Greyson 8.20pm – 9pm
• Du Blonde 9.20pm – 10.00pm

Friday 22 August –  Keel Square Rugby World Cup Fan Village

On match day, the Fan Village in Keel Square within the coronary heart of the town centre, is open from 9am, providing a number of meals, drink, interactive walkabout characters and rugby-themed actions together with move velocity and accuracy challenges, soar top exams, and a response wall, making it the right hub for followers to collect earlier than and after the massive match. 

While you are there, why not go to Keel Edge simply throughout the highway from Keel Square the place you will discover an thrilling rugby themed immersive and interactive gentle set up, together with extra seating and a bar.

The new Keel Crossing will even be open to the general public from 10.30am

Visitors to the free Fan Village also can stay up for reside music all through the day with tribute performances from:

• Rock Choir – 11am – 11.40am
• Rock DJ – 12noon – 12.45pm 
• Mac Busted 1pm – 1.45 pm
• BBC Introducing – 2pm – 2.45pm
• Re-Take That – 3pm – 3.45pm
• Royal Rhapsody – 4pm – 4.45pm

At 5pm forward of the sport, there’ll even be a vibrant group fan parade, accompanied by reside music and avenue performers, main followers on the quick stroll throughout to the Stadium of Light for the match. 

Following the massive match, the day will finish with a spectacular firework show over the river at roughly 10.15 pm. While it is going to be potential to see the fireworks from either side of the river, the very best place to see them is from the Fan Village in Keel Square.

Saturday 23 August –  Keel Square Rugby World Cup Fan Village

Celebrations proceed on Saturday, 23 August, as Sunderland BID relocates the favored Sunniside Food Market to Keel Square for a day-long pageant of native expertise and creativity. With music, leisure and family-friendly actions, there might be one thing for everybody to take pleasure in.

Attractions on the day embrace:

• Sunniside Food Market – 10am – 3pm
• DJ Jamal – 11am to 3pm
• Chris Cross Magic – 11.30am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm 
• Hannah Graham Portraits 10 am – 3pm
• Bubble Entertainment – 11am – 3pm
• Circurama Circus Skills 11am – 4pm
• Sketching with Atlas Theatre Company – 11am -3pm
• Aria Movement’s aerial hoop taster periods – 11am -3pm

To purchase tickets for the Rugby World Cup and keep updated with all the most recent information concerning the opening match in Sunderland, go to: Rugby World Cup 2025 – MySunderland