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Chart-topping superstar named to open Women's Rugby World Cup
By Neil Fissler
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Singer Anne-Marie, who is behind the chart-topping hits Rockabye and Ciao Adios, has been confirmed as the headline act that will open the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup next month in the opening show being presented by O2.
It will also mark the return to the stage for East Tilbury-born singer and songwriter after the birth of her second child with rapper Slowthai, 30, in May this year.
Anne-Marie, 34, will kick off a pre-match performance at Sunderland’s 49,000-capacity Stadium of Light before England face Ilona Maher and the USA on August 22nd and feels the tournament will be massive for women’s sport.
“Just women’s sport being televised is great for young girls. I loved sport when I was younger, but didn’t see much women’s sport on TV. If I did, I would have been even more into it.
“And maybe I’d have pursued a sport more because I saw it on TV. So hopefully it’s inspiring for kids to know that they can do it,” she said.
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Anne-Marie, who took up Martial arts as a child, says sport can teach much more discipline and give more life skills, even to the most rebellious.
“My dad was really happy I started Karate, that was one good thing about it. I’m the type of person who just likes focusing on something very strongly, and that became karate.
“I didn’t realise it would teach me so much about life as well. I just done it to begin with because I fancied trying it, and then it became part of who I was.
“I think that sport can be a part of who you are and can actually form a part of your personality that might not have been there before.
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“It teaches you discipline, which you don’t really learn anywhere else, because if you get taught it in school, you kinda wanna rebel, but it’s something that teaches you a lot that other people can’t, so I think sport is really important.”
Anne-Marie, who has been nominated for ten Brit awards who has given her backing to the Red Roses, who have appeared in the last three finals and are bidding for a fourth and has simple advice for dealing with big crowds.
“I feel that the sporting energy will be different to the concert energy. But I love all sports, whatever is on TV, I’m watching. But I couldn’t image playing a sport in front of so many people.
“My aim is to perform in front of an audience, whereas their aim is just to win. It’s a really different mentality, but you have to feed off the energy and pretend they’re not there,” she adds.