EXETER CATHEDRAL was among the many venues across England chosen to host opening ceremonies for the Women’s Rugby World Cup, which kicks off this Friday evening.
The French and Italian teams processed into the cathedral for his or her ceremony on Saturday, where they were officially welcomed and presented with commemorative caps. Also within the procession were the Bishop of Exeter, Dr Mike Harrison, the Dean, the Very Revd Jonathan Greener, the Lord Mayor, Cllr Ann Jobson, and members of the Exeter Chiefs women’s team.
The teams were greeted with cheers and applause from lots of of invited representatives of ladies’s and girls’ rugby teams from across the region. The French and Italian captains made speeches thanking the people of Exeter for his or her welcome and searching forward to the beginning of the tournament, which this yr is being hosted in England.
France and Italy, who will probably be based in Exeter for the month-long tournament, are attributable to play one another at Sandy Park this Saturday.
Exeter CathedralThe Italian team outside the cathedral
The Bishop and the Dean were each presented with a commemorative World Cup rugby ball by the Lord Mayor. Dean Greener said: “I’m thrilled to have hosted the opening ceremony for the Women’s Rugby World Cup. It’s the primary time in 975 years that the cathedral has ever hosted a world cup event, in order that’s an enormous excitement and joy and privilege for us all.”
The Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Revd Moira Astin, who was also on the event, said: “When I used to be in my teens and twenties nobody could even contemplate that girls could be allowed to play rugby.
“It’s so wonderful to see women fulfilling their potential in rugby in addition to in other sports. I believe we’re finding those that said women wouldn’t be pretty much as good as men are eating their words. It’s good that girls are attending to see that sport is for them.”
The other venues to host the World Cup this yr are in Brighton and Hove, Bristol, London, Manchester, Northampton, Sunderland, and York.
The official opening show is being held within the O2 arena. England are attributable to play the US in the primary match at 7.30 p.m. on Friday evening. The final is attributable to happen on Saturday 27 September.
