AE Live Ignite unites global female artists for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 title sequence
AE Live Ignite New Zealand has delivered a groundbreaking title sequence for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, collaborating with 16 female artists, one from each competing nation, to celebrate the spirit of the tournament and the growing global momentum for women’s sport.
World Rugby commissioned AE Live Ignite New Zealand to craft a dynamic motion graphics title sequence in collaboration with female artists from across the globe.
The tournament was a resounding success, England emerged as champions, and global attendance shattered previous records, highlighting the growing popularity and support for women’s rugby.
The creative work captured the energy and spirit of a historic event that inspired millions. For this global celebration of adventure, spirit and unity, long-term collaborators HBS and World Rugby turned to AE Live Ignite to deliver the opening title sequence and world feed match graphics system.
For the highly anticipated tournament, the title sequence featured bespoke artwork from 16 female creative collaborators — artists from each competing nation.
Says Xöe Hall, Artist, New Zealand: “Art and sport have never really collided like this before. It was an honour to be chosen to represent our country in this way.”
Each artwork was a celebration of the tournament, conveying the competing teams’ national identity and the Women’s Rugby World Cup spirit.
Says Alina Urusov, Artist, Canada: “I loved the idea of being part of an international women’s illustration team for such an amazing sport where we can express women’s strength and excellence.”
Ignite conceived the idea, curating, assembling and animating the work of all 16 artists into a fluid title sequence that celebrated female athletes and their nations of origin. The sequence built anticipation for the UK-based tournament, culminating in the final artwork from England’s Clara Bacou.
Says Bacou: “It’s inspiring to be part of such a diverse creative team. I can’t wait to watch our individual pieces flow into one powerful, unified celebration of women’s rugby.”
The title sequence, titled ‘Nation Animations’, has since been named a finalist in the Sport Broadcast Awards in the UK.
Artist Credit List: (In order of appearance)
NZ – Xoe Hall – ‘Wāhine Toa Superstar’
Japan – Lisa Kogawa ‘Seikirai’
Spain – Higinia Garay ‘A Land Of Light And Colour’
Samoa – Tayla Vaeau – ‘Lauamanusina’
France – Julie Guillem ‘France Parade’
Italy – Marta Cubeddu ‘Beyond The Field’
South Africa – Xee Carstens ‘Ayoba’
Fiji – Elsie Andrewes ‘Toso Marama ni Viti’
USA – Isabel Humphrey ‘Beneath The Same Stars’
Ireland – Jacky Sheridan ‘An Badhbh’
Brazil – Mel Cerri – ‘Bora Yaras!’
Australia – Alice Lindstrom ‘Desert Sprint’
Wales – Sarah Cliff ‘A Try For Wales’
Canada – Alina Urusov ‘Mapletropolis’
Scotland – Fritha Land ‘ The Scottish Rugby Union in Queer Tartan Trojan Unicorn Glitter’
England – Clara Bacou ‘Blossom & Roar’
Find out more about each artist featured here
The match graphic system carried equal creative flair, combining striking brand colours with asymmetrical trapezoid panels to draw the eye to vital match data as each game unfolded.
The design aimed to appeal to a broader, younger and more global audience, complete with narrative support elements such as score value indication to help newcomers to the sport follow the drama of each high-stakes match.
Created by 16 artists, conceived and animated by AE Live Ignite, and delivered by AE Live, the real-time stat-driven graphics enhanced the viewing experience worldwide.
Says Steve Jamieson, Executive Producer of TV and Live Content, World Rugby: “It is always a pleasure working with HBS & Ignite. The titles and package for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 look amazing, but it’s the story behind the titles that makes them so special. Created from the superb artwork of 16 female designers from each competing nation, their art is unique, tells its own national story, and then seamlessly comes together as a celebration of cultures.”
AE Live Ignite’s work was also inspired by World Rugby’s Women in Rugby plan, a global movement focused on female player welfare, career development, and creating opportunities for women in the sport.
Says Kaylene Hurley, GM, AE Live Ignite: “It felt fitting to collaborate with a global network of female artists, illustrators, tattooists and 3D designers to build a show package for an all-female tournament.”