Rugby Rising Play: Empowering Girls Through Tailored Rugby Programmes

Rugby Rising Play is an innovative initiative designed to introduce girls with no prior rugby experience to the sport through a comprehensive 10-session programme. This initiative not only equips participants with essential skills but also fosters a holistic learning environment that reflects the core values of rugby. The primary aim of Rugby Rising Play is to facilitate girls’ progression into Tier 1 Rugby and other game formats, ensuring they gain the knowledge and confidence needed to thrive in the sport while promoting lifelong engagement.

Earlier this year, applications were opened for eligible unions, resulting in the selection of over 40 participants. The initiative aims to welcome more girls into rugby than ever in the coming year.

Rugby Rising Play is a key part of World Rugby’s global initiative, Impact Beyond 2025, which was officially launched last month. This programme seeks to leverage the excitement of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England 2025 to create a positive global impact. Built on three core pillars and nine strategic initiatives, Impact Beyond 2025 adopts a holistic approach to inspire more women and girls to engage with rugby both on and off the field. Rugby Rising Play is the first initiative to emerge under the new ‘Rugby Rising’ visual identity, which focuses on creating targeted programmes for girls.

World Rugby Chief of Women’s Rugby, Sally Horrox, expressed her enthusiasm, stating: “Rugby Rising Play signifies a pivotal moment for the women and girls’ game, enhancing access and engagement worldwide. The success of our pilot programme illustrates the strong interest in rugby among girls, and we are committed to ensuring that this initiative provides a meaningful pathway for skill development and confidence-building, all while reinforcing rugby’s core values.”

Ninette Kruyt, World Rugby Women’s Participation Programme Manager, added, “The response to Rugby Rising Play has been overwhelmingly positive, with 66 unions applying in the initial round of grants, highlighting the demand for opportunities that support female players at all levels. We are excited about the lasting impact this initiative will have on the growth of girls’ rugby globally.”

The pilot programme, rolled out across nine unions in five regions, has successfully introduced a new wave of teenage girls to rugby, creating a supportive and values-driven learning environment. This initiative has also fostered a robust social media presence and attracted seed funding, amplifying its community influence. Many participants are engaging in sport for the first time, with additional backing from government bodies and local leaders actively involved in rugby festivals.

Impact Beyond 2025 complements the RFU’s Impact ‘25 programme, which aims to accelerate the growth of women’s and girls’ rugby throughout England and the home nations. With £12.13 million in government funding committed through March 2025, this plan is set to create more opportunities for women and girls to participate in rugby, supporting the RFU’s goal of reaching 100,000 female players by 2027.

For more information about Rugby Rising Play and how to get involved, please click here.