A new attendance record for a match of the Women’s Six Nations Tournament was beaten on Sunday in Grenoble, during the meeting between France and Wales (39-14), with 18,604 spectators, welcomed Sunday the French Rugby Federation (FFR).
“The latest record had already been reached in France at the Stade des Alpes with 17,440 spectators for the victory of Les Bleues against the English during the 2018 Women’s Six Nations Tournament”, the last Grand Slam of the French women, specified the FFR in a statement. Thanks to this victory, the fourth in four meetings of this 2023 edition of the Tournament, Audrey Forlani’s teammates offered themselves the right to play a “final” against the English “Red Roses”, on April 29 at Twickenham, who for the occasion, will welcome a record crowd for a women’s rugby match, with more than 50,000 people expected.
With two sold-out matches in the last two meetings of the XV of France women in France (10,044 spectators in Vannes for the match against Scotland and 18,604 in Grenoble), “there is a real fervor that emerges behind this team, ”adds the FFR.
“In the wake of these figures and the TV audiences which increase each year, it is also the licensees who are committed and loyal to the practice of rugby in France”, adds the press release. For Brigitte Jugla, vice-president of the FFR in charge of women’s rugby and the feminization of rugby, quoted in the press release, “the players arouse exceptional enthusiasm among rugby fans and even beyond. Today, we have more than 30,000 practitioners in France, an increase of 74% since the 2017 World Cup”.
