Let’s talk about... Women’s Rugby

Hello Readers,

Red Roses VS Canada Nov 17

This post expands on one I wrote for Women’s History Week. If you know me personally or follow my social feeds, you’re probably aware of my love for rugby. I don’t want to come across as too feministy right off the bat, but I honestly prefer watching The Red Roses. Their games are quicker, cleaner, and all-around a better experience. While I know some of the major rugby clubs have women’s teams, I’ll primarily focus on The Red Roses here—they’re my passion.
 
Case in point: the men’s team missed their shot at coming second (sorry, guys—facts are facts), and then The Red Roses stormed onto the pitch, winning the Six Nations 80–0 and claiming a Grand Slam. Send her victorious!
 
That said, the men still have an undeniable advantage in rugby, largely because many women players still juggle rugby with day jobs. Thankfully, the RFU took a huge step forward in September 2018 by announcing the introduction of full-time contracts for women in 2019, showing a real commitment to the growth of women’s rugby.
 
To give a little context: the England women’s national rugby union team first played in 1982. By 1994, the Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) was established in England, with each of the Home Nations managing their own programs. Over time, many of the top men’s clubs introduced women’s teams, including Wasps, Saracens, Worcester, London Irish, and Harlequins.
 
Since the 1990s, women’s rugby has grown significantly, with more tournaments being held and the sport receiving more publicity. While rugby sevens has typically been more popular, the 15s game has increasingly earned its place in the spotlight.
 
Notable milestones include England hosting the first women’s international at Twickenham in 2003 and the RFU dedicating its 2006 rugby museum exhibition, Women’s Rugby – A Work in Progress, to the history of the women’s game. The Women’s Rugby World Cup has also been broadcast live on the internet, making the sport more accessible to fans.
 
From my perspective, it wasn’t until the men’s 2015 Rugby World Cup, held in England, that I saw The Red Roses start receiving the recognition they deserve. Hashtags like #WatchThemGrow and #SendHerVictorious began appearing in ads and on social media, signaling a shift. Since the 2017 Women’s World Cup, The Red Roses have been unstoppable, winning 14 out of their last 15 Test matches.
 
Women’s rugby is gaining momentum, and I’m here for it. Here’s to The Red Roses and the incredible progress they’ve made—may the victories keep coming!

Red Roses VS USA Nov 18

In 2017, the RFU launched the Tyrrells Premier 15s, investing £2.4 million into this new women’s 15s competition with a clear goal: to raise the standards of the women’s game. This initiative marked a significant milestone in the development of women’s rugby and demonstrated a serious commitment to its growth.

Globally, women’s rugby has gained popularity in both developed and emerging nations, and according to the RFU, it’s now the fastest-growing sport in the world. While sevens rugby often dominates due to its lower costs and smaller team sizes, the 15-a-side game is gradually gaining traction in regions where it was previously less established.

While researching for this post, I discovered The Nomads RFC, a fascinating piece of women’s rugby history. Founded in 1993, The Nomads were created to provide playing and social opportunities for players who weren’t involved in the Six Nations competition. Being part of The Nomads was considered the women’s equivalent of being called up for the men’s Barbarians—a prestigious honour in the rugby world.

More recently, the Barbarians officially launched a women’s team, which I believe happened just last year. This is an incredible step forward for women’s rugby. Being called up to play for the Barbarians is a tremendous honour, and having that same level of recognition extended to female players is monumental. The Barbarians are an elite team, formed by invitation only, and being selected as a female Barbarian signifies how far women’s rugby has come in terms of visibility and respect.

Red Roses in numbers

World Cup

2 wins

Six Nations Championship

14 wins

13 Grand Slam

19 Triple Crowns

European Championship

5 wins

L x

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