UK Top 10 News

Abby Dow, the England Rugby wing, has declared that the Red Roses' triumphant Rugby World Cup success at Twickenham Stadium is a victory for ‘women’s sport’ itself, not just the team's achievement.
Reflecting on the emotional day, Dow admitted she was stunned into silence when the final whistle blew, a stark contrast to the ‘shock of a different realisation’ at the previous World Cup final defeat in 2022, which came after a horror leg injury and the death of her father, Paul.
Now that the goal has been achieved and the 'mountaintop reached,' Dow, who has been without a club all summer to maintain focus on the campaign, says she has ‘no idea’ what comes next, putting off serious decisions until after the celebrations.
The Twickenham atmosphere itself was overwhelming, with Dow reflecting on the ‘surreal experience’ of seeing the stadium full, admitting she struggled to breathe at one point due to the sheer scale of the crowd.
She stated, ‘This is women’s rugby and it is here to stay.’ Dow credited the achievement not just to the team, but to ‘all the volunteers, all the people that go behind the scenes’ who challenged ‘what is and what could be.’ She stressed that the win proves that women’s sport as a whole is ‘here to stay’ and hopes that children will ‘never be limited by it.’ Dow’s own journey began at Maidenhead Rugby Club, following her brother Chris and sister Ruth, with rugby serving as a ‘rock’ for her family, dedicating the win to them.
Looking forward, the mechanical engineering graduate hopes for ‘stability in the game,’ advocating for rugby to ‘move up to the north’ and flourish across the country, building on the grassroots influence created by the victory.