The Excitement Builds for the 10th Edition of the Women’s Rugby World Cup
As the countdown continues for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, the Local Operating Company (LOC) Board has welcomed three new esteemed members to help deliver the biggest celebration of women’s rugby to date.
Former field hockey international and Team GB Olympian, Annie Panter, has joined the LOC Board to represent the UK Government, reflecting their strong support for the tournament. Panter, who also serves on the UK Sport board and is a Managing Director at the agency Two Circles, brings extensive board and commercial experience to the group.
Joining Panter on the LOC Board is Lindsay Pattison, the recently appointed Chief People Officer at WPP. Pattison will assume the role of Audit Committee Chair, complementing the board with her extensive digital and media expertise, vital for the tournament’s ambitious fan engagement plans across multiple channels.
Rounding out the new appointments is Sean Summers, an independent member of the World Rugby Events Company Board, who will serve as the World Rugby representative on the LOC Board. Summers, the Executive VP of Mercado Libre, Latin America’s largest ecommerce and fintech ecosystem, brings a wealth of marketing, digital, and entertainment industry experience to the group.
“Annie, Lindsay and Sean are outstanding additions to the Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 Board and brilliantly placed to support our mission to deliver the biggest and best Women’s Rugby World Cup to date.”
- Gill Whitehead, Independent Chair
The Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 Board operates within World Rugby’s new hosting model, ensuring a centralized and aligned strategic approach to staging the sport’s showcase events.
To mark the recent two-year milestone, World Rugby and the Rugby Football Union, with UK Government support, have confirmed the host cities, venues, and tournament dates that will provide the stage for the “biggest ever celebration of women’s rugby.”
Kicking off on 22 August and concluding with the final on 27 September, the 10th edition of the showcase tournament aims to break new ground on fan engagement and inclusivity, with diversity, equity, and inclusion at the forefront of the strategy.
The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England promises to be an unforgettable event, as the sport continues to accelerate in participation around the globe, with the tournament format expanded to 16 teams.
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