Emirates, the world-renowned air carrier, has announced a significant expansion of its enduring partnership with World Rugby, becoming an official partner and the official airline of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
This strategic commitment underscores Emirates’ dedication to championing the accelerating growth and visibility of women’s sports on a global scale.
The highly anticipated tournament, set to electrify audiences across England from August 22 to September 27, 2025, will feature 16 national teams vying for the newly introduced Women’s Rugby World Cup Trophy across eight iconic venues. Emirates’ involvement highlights the airline’s strong belief in the immense and rapidly growing potential of women’s rugby worldwide.
A cornerstone of this renewed partnership is Emirates’ continued sponsorship of World Rugby Match Officials. Referees and assistant referees for all 32 tournament matches will proudly wear the distinctive Emirates “Fly Better” kit. This vital support not only signifies Emirates’ commitment to elite officiating but also actively contributes to the development and progression of top-tier match officials, including an increasing presence of women officials on rugby’s grandest stage.
Michel Poussau, World Rugby’s Chief Revenue Officer, emphasized the long-standing relationship and said, “Emirates has been a trusted and long-standing partner of World Rugby and our pinnacle competitions for nearly two decades, and we’re proud to extend this enduring relationship into the groundbreaking Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. Their continued commitment to supporting our match officials plays a crucial role in upholding excellence on the field. This partnership reflects not only our shared values but also our collective ambition to elevate rugby on the global stage.”
Sarah Massey, Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Managing Director, highlighted the importance of official development and added, “Supporting the development of our team behind the whistle on the sport’s biggest stage is vital to delivering a world-class tournament. Emirates’ investment is helping create meaningful opportunities for these inspiring individuals to thrive, especially the women match officials taking part in this landmark event. We’re thrilled to welcome Emirates as a partner for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.”
Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, continued, “We’re excited to partner with World Rugby as an Official Partner and Airline of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. Women’s rugby is flourishing globally, and Emirates’ significant investment expands our presence and supports rugby’s growth. Making the sport accessible to everyone is part of our commitment to creating long-lasting impact, stronger connections with fans and unlocking possibilities through the power of sport.”
As an official partner, Emirates will benefit from extensive marketing exposure across the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025’s digital and social media platforms, on-ground activations at tournament venues, and prominent in-stadium branding throughout all matches. The airline’s well-established commercial and operational presence in 13 of the participating nations further enhances the partnership’s global reach and engagement potential.
Emirates’ profound commitment to rugby dates back to 1987. This latest agreement builds upon a rich history of supporting the sport at all levels, encompassing sponsorship of six consecutive Rugby World Cups (2007-2027), the HSBC Cape Town 7s, the Emirates Dubai 7s, and title sponsorships with Asia Rugby and the UAE Rugby Federation, fostering grassroots development alongside elite competition. Beyond rugby, Emirates is a fervent supporter of women’s sports across various disciplines, including the DP World Tour, the Wimbledon, the US Open, the Australian Open, the French Open, ICC, the FA, the NBA and many more.
This announcement follows recent news of the consumer goods giant Unilever’s major foray into rugby, becoming an official partner of World Rugby for the next three Rugby World Cups, further signalling the sport’s growing commercial appeal.
The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 is poised to be a landmark event, driving significant momentum for women’s sports and inspiring a new generation of players and fans worldwide. Emirates’ strategic partnership will play a pivotal role in amplifying this impact, ensuring a world-class tournament and further solidifying the airline’s position as a leading advocate for global sports.
