A record day for the women's game
Today, 26 September 2026, more than 50,000 fans are expected to pack into Twickenham to watch England's Red Roses take on New Zealand's Black Ferns — on course to be one of the biggest crowds ever recorded for a standalone women's rugby Test. If you'd told a grassroots coach ten years ago that a women's fixture would sell out English rugby's home ground, they'd have laughed you out of the clubhouse. Today, it's simply the biggest game in town.
It's almost exactly a year since the Red Roses beat Canada to lift the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup on home soil, and the impact of that win is still rippling outward. Since then, England have remained unbeaten as world champions, their remarkable run of 39 straight wins eventually ending in a hard-fought 26-26 draw with Canada — a run that stands as one of the great achievements in the sport's history. New Zealand arrive at Twickenham in serious form of their own, unbeaten so far in 2026 under new head coach Whitney Hansen and determined to reassert themselves as the side to beat.
Red Roses vs Black Ferns is exactly the kind of fixture women's sport has been building towards for years: two heavyweight nations, a genuine title-winning rivalry, and a crowd size that would be respectable for a men's Six Nations match. This isn't a novelty occasion anymore. It's elite sport, full stop.
Why this matters beyond Twickenham
The knock-on effect of days like this is what really excites us as a rugby retailer. Every time the Red Roses play in front of a packed house, we see the same pattern at grassroots level: more girls turning up to Sunday morning training, more schools starting girls' rugby sections, more parents asking their local club "where do we start?"
That's the real legacy of the 2025 World Cup win — not just the trophy, but a generation of players who watched it happen and decided they wanted in. Clubs up and down the country have reported growing numbers on their girls' and women's teams since last September, and today's match in front of an expected record Twickenham crowd is only going to add fuel to that fire.
So if you're a parent whose daughter has suddenly announced she wants to play rugby, a newcomer inspired to give the sport a go yourself, or a club or school coach bracing for a wave of new faces at training this week — here's our honest, no-nonsense guide to the kit essentials for getting started.
Kit essentials for newcomers
The good news about starting rugby is that you don't need much to get going. Whether you're eight or 38, brand new to the game or dusting off old boots, the basics are the same.
Boots are the first proper investment. You need studs that grip on grass without wrecking your ankles in a five-a-side sports hall, and a boot that supports lateral movement — rugby is all about changing direction fast. Our rugby boots collection covers everyone from total beginners to seasoned club players, and if you're not ready to spend big before you know the game is for you, the Aztec Lace-Up boots are a brilliant starting point from just £39.99. They're unisex junior and senior sizing, so whoever's lacing up, there's a size to fit.
A rugby ball is obviously essential too, and it's worth having your own for practising passing and kicking outside of training. Given the occasion, it feels right to point you towards our England Rugby Ball — a nice way to mark today's fixture and get a feel for the game with a proper match-style ball. Browse the full range in our rugby balls collection if you want something more specific to age group or training use.
Safety first: protecting new players
Rugby is a contact sport, and getting the protective basics right from day one matters more than any other piece of kit on this list.
A mouthguard is non-negotiable — most clubs and schools won't let players train or play without one, and rightly so. For an individual new player, the Matrix Sports Mouthguard Clear is a simple, affordable option at £7.95. If you're a coach or club kitting out a whole new intake of players at once, the Multi-X Mouthguard 6-Pack at £12.99 is a sensible way to make sure nobody turns up without one. Have a look through our full mouthguards collection for options to suit players of all ages.
Beyond that, many newcomers — and plenty of parents — feel reassured by a bit of extra protection while players get used to contact. A padded protective top can take the edge off knocks and tackles during those early sessions, and the Origin Rugby Protective Top, from £32.99 and World Rugby approved, is a solid, trusted choice. Some players also like the added confidence of a headguard for training and matches. Both are unisex and sized for junior and senior players alike, so you'll find the right fit whatever age or stage your player is at — take a look at our rugby body armour and rugby headguards ranges to find the right protection for your new player.
Whether you're playing or watching
If you're settling in to watch this afternoon's match, you're watching what's on course to be one of the biggest crowds a standalone women's Test has ever drawn, and two of the best sides in the world going head to head with real needle after that draw with Canada. Keep an eye out for how New Zealand's new coaching set-up under Whitney Hansen shapes their gameplan, and whether England can find the extra edge that separates a good team from a truly great one.
And if the match leaves you or someone in your family itching to get involved, there's never been a better moment. Grassroots girls' rugby is growing fast, clubs are actively welcoming newcomers, and getting kitted out doesn't need to cost a fortune or be complicated. Start with boots, a ball, and a mouthguard, add protective gear if you want the extra reassurance, and you're ready for your first session.
Whatever brought you here today — cheering on the Red Roses, or lacing up your own boots for the first time — we hope to see you out on the pitch soon. Browse our full rugby range for everything you need to get started this season.
