The attention of the rugby world turns to England as the Women’s Rugby World Cup kicks off in Sunderland this Friday.
There will be more than 40,000 people packed into the Stadium of Light when the Red Roses take on the USA as they bid to making a flying start in their attempt to win the World Cup for the first time since 2014.
England go into this tournament on the back of a 27-match winning streak, having won every match they have played since the last World Cup final, a heart-breaking 34-31 loss to the Black Ferns in New Zealand.
Two years out from the inaugural Lions Women’s Tour to New Zealand in 2027, this year’s World Cup is set to be a ground-breaking moment for the sport with a world record attendance already assured for the final at the end of September.
John Mitchell’s Red Roses will hope to be part of that showpiece event in Twickenham, with their opening fixture against the States – who have global superstar Ilona Maher in their ranks.
Having won their final warm-up game against France 40-6, England are unchanged for their tournament opener, with Zoe Aldcroft again captaining the side, while reigning World Rugby Player of the Year Ellie Kildunne starts at full-back.
“We have been building nicely into the tournament and now we’re excited to get our campaign underway,” Mitchell said.
“Sunderland have been a great host city thus far and we know it’ll be a record crowd for a Women’s Rugby World Cup opening match which shows the appetite for rugby in this region and for the competition ahead.
“We want to embrace the occasion whilst understanding we have to remain where our feet are and earn the right to progress through the pool stage.”
The opening weekend will have plenty riding on it, with perhaps the most intriguing game of all coming in Salford where Scotland take on Wales.
Three years ago, it was Keira Bevan’s injury-time penalty that ended up being the difference between the teams – and qualification for the quarter-finals, and a place in the last eight could also be on the line in this one.
Scotland triumphed when the teams met in the Women’s Six Nations, but Wales showed some form when they beat the Wallaroos in Australia in preparing for this tournament.
With that inaugural Women’s Lions Tour looming ever closer on the horizon, there is every chance that some of the stars in Salford will make their way to New Zealand in 2027.
Speaking of the Black Ferns, they begin their campaign against Spain, finding themselves in the same group as the remaining home nation – Ireland.
Inspired by rising star Aoife Wafer, Scott Bemand’s side got the better of the reigning world champions the last time the teams met in WXV last year.
For now, Ireland’s focus will be on getting off to a winning start against Japan, with their final match against New Zealand in Brighton another of the mouth-watering spectacles thrown up by the group stages.
The next month and a bit is set to be the biggest festival of women’s rugby we have ever seen so make sure to tune in - every match is live across BBC Sport.