Here is an ideal quiz question for International Women’s Day: name the latest team sport in which women are starting to attract more supporters than the men? The answer is rugby union. This Saturday a record five-figure crowd is anticipated in Exeter to watch England’s Red Roses play Italy in the women’s Six Nations, a higher number than attended half of the six fixtures in the Gallagher Premiership last weekend.
Ten thousand fans gathering for a women’s game at Sandy Park? Cheaper tickets notwithstanding, few would have called it even a couple of years ago. No wonder Exeter Chiefs have plans to launch a female team to capitalise on this growing interest. If it helps that England, unlike their men, remain unbeaten with a grand slam still in their sights, there are also clearly other factors at play.
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