An era-defining Women's Rugby World Cup has set records even before it kicks off on Friday when host England plays the United States in Sunderland.

Tournament hosts England head into the Women's Rugby World Cup as strong favourites but are under huge pressure to end more than 20 years of disappointment in the sport's showpiece event.

Organisers of the Women's Rugby World Cup, which begins when hosts England play the United States on Friday, have announced ticket sales that have totally dwarfed previous tournaments, including an 82,