Allwyn and the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 have come together to form an official volunteer programme, supporting the “biggest-ever global celebration of women’s rugby”.
Ahead of the tournament’s first return to England since 2010, the National Lottery operator has kicked off an initiative to support the Women’s Rugby World Cup with 1,500 volunteers – 65% of which are women themselves.
Marking Volunteers’ Week, Allwyn’s volunteers will take positions to champion the tournament across the country’s eight host cities of Brighton & Hove, Bristol, Exeter, London, Manchester, Northampton, Sunderland and York between 22 August and 27 September.
Andria Vidler, Chief Executive Officer of Allwyn, commented: “Allwyn’s Social Value Fund supports initiatives that create a positive legacy, enabling individuals and communities to thrive.
“We know that volunteers are the beating heart of sports events across the UK, which is why we are so excited to support the extraordinary volunteer programme at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
“Over 1,500 passionate individuals are stepping up to make a real difference, including many young people, first-time volunteers, and an impressively high proportion of women. Together, we are not only delivering a tournament, we are delivering a long-lasting impact.”
As a supporting Volunteer Programme Partner, Allwyn will support the tournament through its annual £1m Social Value Fund with volunteers – named The Gatekeepers – supporting match days, fan zones and broadcast and media areas, with an integral aim to build the presence of Women’s Rugby not just in England, but across the globe.
Ensuring that well-over half of the volunteers are women will allow Allwyn’s volunteer campaign to reflect the inclusive spirit of the World Cup, encouraging gender parity through an initiative generated through grassroots rugby clubs.
Additionally, a decent portion of the volunteers are made up of young people, as 23% of them are aged between 17 and 29. The initiative falls in line with Allwyn‘s social responsibly and fundraising commitments as National Lottery licence holder, something which the government placed a lot of pressure on its predecessor, Camelot UK, to achieve.
Sarah Massey, Managing Director of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, added: “Volunteers are the heartbeat of every great tournament and are integral to its success. Their passion, energy and commitment symbolise the spirit of rugby – they are the ones who help create lasting memories and bring this world-class event to life.
“Without the support from Allwyn, we wouldn’t be able to deliver this extensive volunteer programme and we are hugely grateful for their support.”
Coinciding with the beginning of the competition, Allwyn has announced that in-person launch events will take place across the host cities in a bid to build a strong connection between the World Cup and its fans.
Ann Fray, Accreditation Team Member, The Gatekeepers, added: “I think we have such skilled and talented Women playing rugby these days, and to host the World Cup in this country is an honour, therefore why would I not wish to support and promote this fantastic event. I’m so proud and really looking forward to helping it be a resounding success.”
In another development this week, Allwyn announced the very first upgrade of the National Lottery’s technology and operations since the start of the third National Lottery Licence back in 2009.
The operator warned shop owners that their National Lottery terminals will stop working for approximately 36 hours during a new technical switchover. Allwyn UK CEO, Andria Vidler, shared that the down time will happen during a weekend this upcoming summer, enabling the new systems to go live.