Rugby World Cup for Woman 'could boost sport take-up'

Rugby World Cup Womens are hoping health experts, being held in Surrey, will encourage more people to get active.

Victoria Heald, at NHS Surrey public health development worker, said more women may take up rugby as a result of the tournament.

But she said there could also be a wider "festival effect" and it could be the inspiration many people required.

At Guildford's Surrey Sports Park the event started on Friday.

Martin Johnson's England can rule world, says former boss Brian Ashton

Brian Ashton believes England have time to emerge as contenders at next year's World Cup, but only if they build on their narrow win over Australia.

As Martin Johnson's squad begin their pre-season training camp at Twickenham today, the man who guided the national team to the final of the last World Cup in 2007 is optimistic that a corner may have been turned by the 21-20 victory in Sydney this summer.

England stumbled into the final three years ago and Ashton said: 'Given that we got to the final last time, I believe anything can happen in a World Cup. England are much further ahead now because Johnno has been there for two years. I was only there for six months before the last World Cup. We didn't even know what our squad was going to be.'