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Beach renamed in preparation for Rugby World Cup

James Dunn/BBC Jess Breach (right, a woman with light blue jeans, a dark blue jumper and her hair in a bun, smiling looking into the camera) and Rachael Burford (left, a woman with blonde hair and a long black coat pointing a Jess) standing in front of a purple sign with white writing on saying Welcome To Brighton Breach on Brighton beachJames Dunn/BBC
Jess Breach began her rugby career at Chichester in West Sussex

Brighton beach has been renamed in preparation for next year's Women's Rugby World Cup.

The beach has been named Brighton Breach, after England player Jess Breach.

Breach, from Chichester in West Sussex, played for Kent based club Aylesford Bulls and Surrey's Harlequins, but currently plays for Saracens.

Speaking to BBC South East, she said: "It feels pretty cool and special to have a beach named after you, it was something I would never would have thought would have happened."

Brighton is one of eight cities chosen to host matches at the tournament in 2025.

Two matches will be played at the Brighton & Hove Community Stadium at Falmer, and one of them will involve England’s Red Roses, who will play Australia on 6 September 2025.

Tickets for the matches went on sale early in November.

The city also hosted matches for the Women's Football Euro's in 2022, including England Lionesses' quarter-final win over Spain.

James Dunn/BBC Jess Breach (right, a woman with light blue jeans, a dark blue jumper and her hair in a bun, smiling looking into the camera and holding a thumb up) and Rachael Burford (left, a woman with blonde hair and a long black coat with a red top on and smiling, looking into the camera) standing in front of a purple sign with white writing on saying Welcome To Brighton Breach on Brighton beach and a replica Woman' Rugby World Cup trophy trophy in the backgroundJames Dunn/BBC
Breach hopes the community of Brighton will support the Red Roses when they play in the city

Breach said she was inspired to play by her father and brother when she was younger.

"They played in Chichester and I was very sporty and competitive with my brother. I just got involved and never stopped.

"It was the team motive and ethos that kept me playing rugby when I was younger."

She added: "I hope the community of Brighton will really get behind us and I'm sure they will.

"They really got involved in 2015 when the men's Rugby World Cup came to the city."

Breach is warning her England team need to take every game "as it comes" but we "can't be too naive".

She says she hopes the fans could be the teams 16th player and help them through the tournament.

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