![]() It was all rounded out with Poi, traditional Māori weighted balls on tethers that fans could twirl with their hands, handed out at entrances, while stalls were also set up for people to make their own for the night. In between games and at half-time, traditional dancers could be seen on stage, one a fire dancer twirling and spinning to rapturous applause, another traditional E Matike Cook Island dancers. In the lead up to the tournament, NZR Tournament Director Rugby World Cup 2021 Michelle Hooper said the event was to be a celebration of the Pacific and the cultures from across the regions, and they made sure to do exactly that.Īhead of each game a traditional Māori welcome began on the pitch with a conch shell ringing out around the ground, while both women and men sang to welcome the teams to the field. The colours of Les Bleus and the Boks women were apparent, but so too were the USA, Canada, Fiji, England and so many more with rugby fans from all walks of life coming together. With the countdown to kick-off for the opening game between France and South Africa ticking down, fans began to make their way into the stadium. Darlings of rugby, Fijiana make their mark in their first RWC.A 'Family Reunion' was the slogan emblazoned across promotions with New Zealand opening the doors and welcoming rugby fans from across the world back into the country. Months later, as the world began to open again, promotion for the tournament ramped up. ![]() With Auckland one of the worst hit regions within New Zealand during the pandemic, the city locking down for much of the year, World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby had no choice but to postpone the tournament and hope 2022 would bring about a return to normality. Originally scheduled to kick-off almost exactly on the 10-year anniversary of the successful 2011 men's edition, the 2021 World Cup became victim a of COVID, like so many other sporting events. Hagen Hopkins - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images Many a times females have gone out into big stadiums like Eden Park or even bigger and there's no one there, to think that we've sold out the whole stadium, it's very surreal and I still can't believe it." Fans have had up-close encounters with their favourite players. "The crowd, the supporters, the fans probably don't understand and probably will never understand how much their support means to us as a team. "I don't think any of us could have ever imagined this at all, especially with the lead up, the setbacks, the challenges. "It's a surreal feeling, it's quite unbelievable thinking that women's sport has sold out Eden Park," Black Ferns captain Ruhaei Demant told media during her team's captain's run on Friday. Hagen Hopkins - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Imagesīy midday Friday it was announced the stadium was sold-out, with over 40,000 people expected to cram into the stadium to witness the start of the first World Cup in the Southern Hemisphere and the biggest tournament to date.įans were keen for the spectacle, while players were left pinching themselves as the reality began to sink in that they would be playing in front of the largest women's World Cup crowd ever, more than doubling the previous 20,000 record in France, and something many of the players had only ever dreamed about. The crowds have been excellent at the Women's Rugby World Cup. ![]() Jerseys from Australia, the United States, France, and of course the famous black New Zealand strip were spotted on the streets as the final tickets to the venue were swiftly snatched up with fans acknowledging it was going to be a night not to be missed. In the days leading up to the night, the excitement within Auckland was starting to build as fans from around New Zealand and the world began to converge on the City of Sails. AUCKLAND, New Zealand - A Rugby World Cup five years in the making, the opening night of the 2021 edition went off exactly to script with a sold-out crowd filling the stands at Eden Park on Saturday night to witness three highly entertaining and enthralling matches, while also being treated to pop sensation Rita Ora and her movie director husband Taika Waititi. ![]()
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