Tuesday, 10 March 2026
The University of Nottingham played host to the Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy at the David Ross Sports Village last week, giving students and staff the chance to take photos with the silverware. The trophy was then taken onto the pitch during a special training session for local schoolchildren.
This visit celebrated the Red Roses’ remarkable triumph at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup and allowed the University community and the next generation of young rugby stars the chance to be inspired by the Red Roses world championship win.
England secured the title with a dominant 33–13 win over Canada in the final at Twickenham Stadium, witnessed by a record crowd of 81,885 fans—the largest attendance ever for a women’s rugby match. The victory earned England their third World Cup crown, adding to their successes in 1994 and 2014 and reinforcing their reputation as one of the most formidable teams in the sport.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have hosted the Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy on our campus. The success of the Red Roses has inspired rugby communities across the country and here in Nottingham we feel that energy every day in our club. This event ihas been the perfect chance for the University family to celebrate women’s sport and connect with one of the greatest achievements in rugby.
At the University of Nottingham, Women’s Rugby is thriving both at the top echelons of university sport and at grassroots level.
The University of Nottingham’s 1st XV have already secured their league title, progressing to the playoffs for a coveted BUCS Super Rugby spot on the 18th of March. The University is also one of only three UK institutions to have three teams entered in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) leagues – both their 2nd and 3rd XV sit in the top three spots of their respective leagues.
Local school children with the Women's Rugby World Cup
The club is supported by principal sponsors Datagum, a Nottingham-based financial services company, whose three-year investment has enabled further growth in both performance and development pathways.
Key highlights included the success of the club’s Path2Pitch introductory programme, which welcomed new players of all abilities and expanded club membership from 89 to 130 players. Twenty student players are completing their England Rugby Coaching Award alongside their studies and playing commitments — equipping them to coach within the University and inspire the next generation of girls and young women in the community.
Seeing the trophy here at David Ross Sports Village is a huge moment for all of us, especially our players past and present. It’s a reminder of what can be achieved with passion, teamwork, and belief.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home. More news…