One of Yorkshire and England’s superstars of 2025 is calling on girls across the country to live the dream and continue the momentum of women’s sport into 2026 and beyond.

Scarborough’s Zoe Stratford (nee Aldcroft) lifted the Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy in front of 80,000 fans at Twickenham in a crowning moment for her, team-mates like Keighley matchwinner Ellie Kildunne and the rampant professionalism of the women’s game.

The Rugby World Cup, which saw six games takes place in York, broke new ground with 440,000 tickets sold and a global audience of six millions watching the final victory over Canada on TV.

But more importantly the tournament’s legacy programme, which Stratford plays an active role in promotion, boosted women and girls’ rugby participation by 9.3 per cent by reaching 850 clubs nationwide and introducing 23,000 girls to rugby.

Legacy: Emily Scarratt, Ellie Kildunne, Sadia Kabeya, Helena Rowland, Tatyana Heard, Rosie Galligan, Zoe Aldcroft, Sarah Bern, Maud Muir, Marlie Packer, Alex Matthews, Amy Cokayne, Kelsey Clifford and May Campbell of England celebrate with their winners medals as Zoe Aldcroft of England lifts the Women's Rugby World Cup trophy during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Final. (Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images)

placeholder image — Legacy: Emily Scarratt, Ellie Kildunne, Sadia Kabeya, Helena Rowland, Tatyana Heard, Rosie Galligan, Zoe Aldcroft, Sarah Bern, Maud Muir, Marlie Packer, Alex Matthews, Amy Cokayne, Kelsey Clifford and May Campbell of England celebrate with their winners medals as Zoe Aldcroft of England lifts the Women's Rugby World Cup trophy during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Final. (Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images)

It was a year which also saw the Lionesses football team repeatedly defy desperate situations to win a second European Championship in Switzerland.

This coming year it’s the turn of women’s cricketers in the ICC’s Women’s T20 World Cup, plus on an individual level, there are medal hopes for the European Athletics Championships and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Stratford said: "Playing in a home World Cup and having that pinnacle moment of winning the tournament was something dreams are made of. Running out in front of packed stadiums across England, feeling that noise and support behind us, really showed how far women’s sport has come.

“You can see it everywhere right now; from the Lionesses to England women’s cricket, and it’s incredible to be part of that momentum.

Inspriational: Chloe Kelly of England with the trophy during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Final match between England and Spain. (Picture: Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)

"We want to inspire people to fall in love with sport, to feel welcome in it, and to believe that pulling on an England jersey one day is possible, whether they’re watching, playing, or just starting to dream.“

Now, sports minister Stephanie Peacock - the MP for Barnsley South - will continue her mission of cementing the UK as world leader in women’s sport by 2035 by spearheading the new Women’s Sport Taskforce with the aim of creating a decade of change for women’s and girls’ sport.

The government has committed at least £400m over the next four years to continue investing in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities across the country, ensuring this momentum continues.

Peacock said: “2026 promises to be another exciting step forward in our mission to create a transformational decade for Women’s Sport. Major events like the cricket’s Women's T20 World Cup will showcase elite female athletes while continued investment in grassroots and the ongoing work of the Women's Sport Taskforce will help drive progress at every level.”