When England beat Canada 21-9 to win the 2014 World Cup there were 20,000 spectators inside the Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris.
At a bouncing Twickenham on Saturday England were cheered on by a record 82,000 fans, the largest crowd for a women’s rugby match, beating the 42,723 who saw England’s opener against the USA in Sunderland seven weeks ago.
“It’s unbelievable,” said England centre Emily Scarratt, who remembered playing a Twickenham double-header where the women’s side played after the men, only for most of the crowd to leave before their kick-off.
“Today was the complete opposite.”
England’s 2014 World Cup-winning captain Katy Daly-McLean said: “I had a tear at the anthems. There’s 80,000 people here and the game is delivering.”
Team-mate Kat Merchant said England’s win “is going to change these girls’ lives”.
In 2019 the Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced 28 players would be awarded full-time England contracts.
Six years later England have 32 centrally contracted players, with a pool of others paid by their Premiership clubs.
Not all of Canada’s players are professional, and they set up a crowdfunding campaign before the tournament.
“England have shown what you need to do if you want success. You need to invest in your women’s team,” said Alphonsi.
“This England side has fought so hard for this moment. This World Cup has been a major success – not just who won it but the standards that have been set for women’s rugby.”