Rugby World Cup 2021 officials have confirmed the opening matchday at Eden Park, headlined by the Wallaroos facing the Black Ferns, has officially sold out.
The match will be played as part of a triple-header on October 8, with South Africa and France to open the tournament before England face newcomers Fiji.
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Along with this, English pop star Rita Ora will perform in-between England-Fiji and New Zealand-Australia as well as at half-time of the feature match.
The crowd attendance will smash several attendance records, surpassing the highest attended women’s Rugby World Cup match day ever at the 2014 Final (20,000) as well as doubling the largest ever crowd for a standalone women’s sports event in New Zealand when North Korea played USA at the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final.
“I think it’s a great sign of confidence this is going to be a great tournament,” World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin told Rugby.com.au at the start of the week.
“A year delayed, you always worry it’s going to be hard to put a tournament on in these circumstances we are, the teams have been incredibly patient, their commitment has been fantastic and I think what you are seeing is the NZ public getting behind it.
“I think it bodes well for the entire tournament.”
This comes with match day four at Waitākere Stadium on 16 October already sold out, headlined by the Black Ferns taking on Wales.
“On Saturday night, Aotearoa will send a strong message to the world that women’s rugby is due its rightful place in the spotlight with a sell-out crowd at Eden Park," Rugby World Cup 2021 Tournament Director, Michelle Hooper said in a statement.
"Creating history for women’s sport and setting new records for women’s rugby, will undoubtedly elevate the women’s game to new heights for generations to come.
"We’d like to express our gratitude to fans and to the global rugby whānau for sharing our belief.
“This has been our shared vision from the outset and to see it come to light speaks volumes about the wave of change globally, celebrating wāhine toa and shining the spotlight on them.
"New Zealand is now officially on the record for smashing gender stereotypes and creating historical change. On behalf of all our team we acknowledge the trailblazers that couldn’t experience this moment and we honour them with this success.”
