Premiership Women's Rugby has announced a remarkable 23.4% increase in average attendances during the 2025-26 season, which wrapped up in June with Saracens clinching their record fourth title.

This surge in numbers follows the excitement generated by England's victory at the home World Cup held at Twickenham in September 2025. The rise is particularly notable given the recent departure of Ilona Maher, the United States star who previously played for Bristol Bears. Maher, recognized as the most followed rugby union player globally on social media, significantly boosted the league's visibility during her time in Bristol during the 2024-25 campaign.

Key statistics from the season include:

• 132% increase in social media following
• 310% growth in the league's database
• Over 111 million views across platforms like YouTube, Meta, and TikTok, marking a 174% increase in viewing figures.

The 2025-26 season also marked the first time every PWR match was broadcast live on platforms such as TNT Sports, BBC Sport, and YouTube.

Genevieve Shore, executive chair of PWR, expressed optimism about these figures, especially following the high benchmarks set by the previous season. "Ilona's impact was extraordinary," Shore stated. "It brought a huge amount of attention to our league and to our players, and we should absolutely celebrate that."

Shore added, "The continued growth post-World Cup and after that incredible spike in interest is particularly encouraging. We can see growth across so many different areas of the business, and that gives us confidence that the work we're doing is truly connecting with fans."