The Stadium of Light in Sunderland has been selected to host the opening match of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup.
England's Red Roses will play the first match of the tournament, which will conclude with the final in Twickenham Stadium.
Leader of Sunderland City Council, Cllr Graeme Miller said: ‘It's incredibly exciting for Sunderland to be playing host to the opening game of the Women's Rugby World Cup at the Stadium of Light.
‘The last few years have seen a massive surge of interest in women's rugby and women's sport in general, so having the opportunity to cheer on the Red Roses in a World Cup match so close to home is brilliant news for sports fans across the North East.
‘It's also a wonderful opportunity for our city and our region to shine on the international stage and we're very much looking forward to welcoming fans from across the world when the biggest ever celebration of women's rugby kicks off in Sunderland in August 2025.’
