A prestigious piece of sporting silverware is paying a visit to Manchester as the official Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy is set to embark on a nationwide tour.
Ahead of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup(WRWC) this summer, the sterling silver, 24-carat gold-plated prize is currently being taken around the UK to help promote what has become a record-breaking competition before the games have even begun.
With more than 300,000 tickets already sold for various fixtures throughout this year’s tournament and still three months to go before opening day, more than double the total attendance for the 2021 edition in New Zealand, it’s on course to be one of if not the biggest event in the history of women’s rugby.
That being said, having the newly updated Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy land in Manchester city centre before the games themselves get underway up and down the country is a big deal, and it’s being displayed in a very special venue.
Arriving this Wednesday, 28 May, the trophy will be on show at the Central Library on St Peter’s Square, where it will also be joined by some female rugby stars.
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In addition to helping hype up the action, they will be sharing their thoughts on how the sport can leave a legacy can sport can leave on communities across Greater Manchester and beyond.
1994 Women’s Rugby World Cup winner, Gill Burns, as well as current England and Sale Sharks forward, Morwenna Talling, are set to be among those in attendance.
The trophy itself is set to stand outside the library, glittering in the (fingers crossed) rare Manc sunshine, as well as travelling to The Lowry over in MediaCityUK that same day, with the Salford Community Stadium serving as one of this year’s venues.
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Not only is this just the second time the tournament has been held in England, but it’s the first time ever that the games have been spread across eight different sporting venues.
You can see the moment the new trophy – which was chosen by nine former world champions, including our very own 2014 winning captain, Katy Daley-Mclean – was revealed for the first time down below.
Speaking to Hits Radio, fellow England star Sarah Bern said of the Women’s Rugby World Cup: “For young girls growing up, they now have access to these amazing rugby players from across the world who they can be inspired by.
“Just showing someone something new, something different, can inspire a new generation of confident young people.”
Welsh winger Jasmine Joyce added: “This is absolutely massive. I want girls to do what they want to do, be themselves, whatever you are, whoever you are – be that!”
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The 2025 WRWC is set to be their most accessible and inclusive yet, with varied and crucially affordable tickets across the board.
Prices start at just £10 for adults and £5 for children, making it easier than ever for everyone to be part of this historic moment for women’s rugby and female sport.
As for the trophy tour itself, the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup arrives in Manchester on Thursday, 29 May and will be viewable outside Central Library from 10-11:30am, before heading to Salford Quays the following day (Friday, 30 May). Make sure you don’t miss it.
Manchester City’s Stadium Tours are back for the summer and bigger than ever
Danny Jones
Manchester City stadium tours are back for summer 2026, with more to see from the home of the Blues than ever, and with 15% off all tickets until the end of August, too.
It’s safe to say that Man City are going through a HUGE period of change right now: embarking on a new era under Enzo Maresca following the dynasty of Pep Guardiola, vast redevelopments of the wider Etihad Campus, a new club hotel, and the expansion of the North Stand – now named after said Catalan coach.
With that in mind, there’s so much new stuff going on over in East Manchester and arguably more of it all happening in one place than we can recall in recent memory, making it the perfect time for Cityzens to return to the famous home ground – indeed, your Etihad debut if you haven’t made one already.
Giving you greater access to areas usually reserved for players and staff only than ever, this exclusive, interactive and virtual tour will take you through the very bones of the storied sporting arena, all the way through to pitchside.
Fans can explore the dressing room and follow in the footsteps of their favourite City players as they walk through the iconic glass players’ tunnel, before walking out into the open air and sitting in the dugout to take in that incredible view.
You can also try out the latest ‘Beyond the Blue Moon’ experience – an immersive VR adventure that sees supporters journey through Manchester City’s past, present, and future.
Following on from Pep lending his likeness, using innovative technology, you can now even have the chance to put your questions to Erling Haaland in the Press Conference Room.
There aren’t many teams on the planet that offer this level of stadium tour, let alone just here in the UK, so it’s no wonder they remain award-winning almost every single year.
Whether you’re a lifelong City fan, a football lover or visiting this wonderful place we call Manchester for the very first time, there’s something for everyone.
For instance, with The Medlock Hotel and accompanying Medlock Square already lining up its maiden events, the City Football Group (CFG) are once again committing to make the wider Etihad Campus an all-year-round entertainment destination.
That being said, plenty of people online have been generating a lot of buzz about the aforementioned Medlock’s new stadium-view rooms since clips appeared on social media.
Pitch view rooms coming to the Radisson Blu Medlock Hotel at #ManCity’s Etihad Stadium. 🤯
As for the tickets themselves, the club have also taken steps to keep the cost affordable.
Standard prices start from just £32 for adults and only £20 for under-16s, with larger family packages available from £60.
BUT, with the 15% discount mentioned earlier, adults currently cost just £27; kids go for just £17, and those family passes start from just £51.
You can find all the options when it comes to stadium tour passes and grab the type of admission that suits you right HERE.
Speaking of tickets, City have also been met with praise for the introduction of new discounted seats for local residents; find out all the details below.
René Meulensteen names the ‘ideal’ signing that Man United appear to be overlooking
Danny Jones
Ex-Manchester United coach René Meulensteen has named the one key signing that he feels the Red Devils are missing out on by not pursuing this summer.
The former Man United assistant, who served under Sir Alex and has recently returned to the backrooms of the English football pyramid, has given his verdict on what he thinks his old club still needs in terms of reinforcements.
Chatting with TipmanTips, the 62-year-old identified the backline as a persisting problem area for now full-time manager Michael Carrick, insisting that they could do with another central defender.
The footballer in question is his fellow countryman, Micky van de Ven – fresh from a new contract with Tottenham Hotspur – who has surprised many by not securing his next big-money move so far in the transfer window.
We are delighted to announce that Micky van de Ven has signed a new contract with the Club!
Speaking in an exclusive interview, he said his Dutch compatriot wouldn’t just be a great rotation player but a starter coming into the 2026/26 season.
“I still think they’re vulnerable at the back”, says Meulensteen, “and that’s one thing Michael is going to have to sort out as soon as possible when the season starts. Finding a centre-back partnership that works and getting some consistency in the back line will be key.
“Harry Maguire is coming off a good end to last season, but he needs some complementary centre-backs next to him, and then also on the right-hand side next to him with Mazraoui and Dalot not really doing anything.”
“I would have been looking at Micky van de Ven from Spurs before he signed a new deal. He’s powerful, he’s quick, he’s got great experience in playing as a left centre back in the Premier League, and he would have given United a very different dynamic in their defence.
He rounded off the recommendation, however late, by arguing that were Maguire to be a mainstay first-choice centre-half for Carrick this season, “van de Ven would’ve meant you wouldn’t have to worry about his lack of pace in behind, as he can cover so much ground recovering.”
As for who they have brought in so far, they’ve managed a well-balanced, albeit limited number of young and experienced talents, including the surprise return of greatest-ever goalscorers (currently 13th on the all-time list at still just 28) in Marcus Rashford.
While he did go on to cite the likes of Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke as a viable alternative, it’s fair to say he would be high up on the shortlist of many fans – and not just United.
On the other hand, we’d once again reiterate that we include ourselves among those stunned that he hasn’t had more suitors floating around of late, especially given he was one of the few bright lights among a side that nearly got relegated last term.
Would you have him as another CB option, Reds?
As for the one-time United assistant, he has recently been introduced to Stockport County FC supporters as the latest addition to the technical staff in an admittedly curious new position…
Danny Jones -
28th May 2025 
