| Event | 1991 Rugby World Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Date | 14 April 1991 | ||||||
| Venue | Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff | ||||||
| Referee | Les Peard (Wales) [1] | ||||||
| Attendance | c. 3,000 | ||||||
The 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup Final was a rugby union match to decide the winner of the inaugural 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup. The match was between the United States and England, it took place on 14 April 1991 at Cardiff Arms Park in Wales. The United States were crowned the first-ever Champions after defeating England 19–6. [2] [3] [4]
| England | Round | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Result | Pool stage | Opponent | Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Spain | 12–0 | Match 1 |  Netherlands | 7–0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Italy | 25–9 | Match 2 |  Soviet Union | 46–0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Final standing |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opponent | Result | Knockout stage | Opponent | Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 France | 13–0 | Semi-finals |  New Zealand | 7–0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The United States were placed in Pool 3 with the Netherlands and the Soviet Union. They defeated Netherlands 7–0 in Pontypool and then later thrashed the Soviet Union 46–0 in Cardiff. [4] They met New Zealand in the semifinal at Cardiff Arms Park and beat them 7–0. [5]
England were pooled with Spain and Italy in Pool 4. Their first match was against Spain in Swansea which they won 12–0. [6] They beat Italy 25–9 in their last pool match and then went on to beat France 13–0 in their semifinal clash and earn themselves a place in the final with USA. [6] [7]
| 14 April 1991 |
England  | 6–19 |  United States |
| Try: Penalty try Con: Gill Burns | Try: Claire Godwin (2) Patty Connell Con: Chris Harju (2) Pen: Chris Harju |
| Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff |
The Final took place in front of almost 3,000 people in Cardiff Arms Park. England led in the first half 6–3 after Gill Burns converted a penalty try. The second half belonged to the Americans as they scored 16 unanswered points with two tries from Claire Godwin and a try to Patty Connell with Chris Harju successfully converting two goals. The USA were champions in the end with 19–6. [5] [8] [9] [10]
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