Some 27,000 people will attend the Crunch between France and England on Saturday in Bordeaux, which will decide the winner of the 2024 Six Nations Tournament, setting a new attendance record for a women’s rugby match in France.
The Bordeaux venue, which hosts the home matches of the Union Bordeaux-Bègles (Top 14), can accommodate up to 28,000 people. The previous French record was established in Grenoble during the match between France and Wales in the 2023 Tournament with 18,604 spectators.
“Matches in France are always special: it will be a strong point for us because it will carry us through the match,” said second row and captain of the Bleues Manae Feleu on Friday. “And to know that we are going to break an attendance record, it’s even more special for the group,” added the player at a press conference.
In any case, “it matters to us, because it shows that women’s rugby is developing and that what we do on the field pleases people because they want to come and see us play,” added the Grenoble player. . Because above all we play for the public and to please people.” The absolute record for a women’s rugby match dates from the 2023 edition of the Tournament with 58,498 spectators at Twickenham Stadium in London, who came to watch England’s victory against Les Bleues (38-33).
The players of the duo David Ortiz-Gaëlle Mignot are second (19 pts) in the ranking behind the English (20 pts). They won their first four meetings, ahead of Ireland (38-17), Scotland (15-5) then against Italy (38-15) and Wales (40-0), offering themselves a final against the Red Roses, world vice-champions and five-time title holders.
