Newcastle in Women's Rugby World Cup bid

Newcastle and Maitland have been unveiled as the proposed host cities as Australia contends to host the 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup.

Australia is competing against New Zealand, England, France, Portugal and Wales to secure the tournament, which will attract tens of thousands of visitors to Newcastle.

Rugby Australia, Newcastle City Council and Maitland Council announced the bid in Sydney today.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the selection of Newcastle as Australia’s host city is the result of many months of work between Council staff with the NSW Government and Rugby Australia.

"The plan started last year when the Wallabies based their training camp at No 2 Sportsground. Both the players and officials from Rugby Australia fell in love with our city and saw its potential to play host to a major sporting event. Earlier this year we almost secured the Rugby World Sevens and today we have been confirmed as host city for Australia’s bid for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup," said the Lord Mayor.

“Newcastle is undoubtedly now a major events city in the eyes of sporting promoters, not just around Australia but from those based overseas looking for the perfect beachside city to host an international sporting event in Australia.

“Newcastle was proud to host the Matildas for a friendly against Brazil last year and our community responded with an Australian crowd record for an international women's football match.

“I’m confident that Newcastle would smash attendance records as the host of the 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup too.”

Rugby Australia Chief Executive Raelene Castle said: “Our bid demonstrates that Australia has the ability to tap into a rich history of major event expertise, a strong women’s sports movement, corporate support, volunteers and engaged sports fans in Australia that will deliver a record breaking tournament.

“Newcastle and the Hunter region is the perfect location to deliver a record-breaking tournament in a truly Australian style – fun, vibrant, exciting, inclusive and innovative.

“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."
The 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup would be one of the biggest ever sporting events to be hosted in Newcastle, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from both interstate as well as around the world.

The event will be a 12-team tournament over 35 days in July and August 2021 and will attract global broadcast and digital audiences.

The 2017 Tournament in Ireland saw record crowds, reached a television viewing audience of 33.9 million, and generated more than 40 million video views on social media.

Given this, along with expected visitor numbers the tournament the 2021 Women’s World Cup bid has the potential to bring significant economic and social benefits to the Hunter.

The successful host nation will be announced on 14 November 2018.