Impact ’25: Delivering Change in Rugby for Women and Girls
Impact ’25 was celebrated today at Stockport RUFC during a Love Rugby girls’ festival, marking a significant milestone in the programme’s journey.
Impact ’25, the legacy programme for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, aims to accelerate the accessibility of rugby for women and girls by investing £12.13 million of Government funding into the sport across England and the home unions.
To celebrate the halfway point of the programme, Red Rose Morwenna Talling, Rugby World Cup Winner and Sale Sharks performance lead, Katy Daley-McLean, and former World Cup winner Gill Burns joined more than 80 players from local schools to celebrate the initiative.
With fewer than 200 days to go till the start of the World Cup, Impact ’25 has already made a tangible difference, benefiting hundreds of clubs and thousands of players. Key achievements so far include:
- 850 clubs receiving funding or activities to grow the women’s game and capitalise on the excitement around the RWC25.
- 1,456 newly qualified female coaches and match officials.
- 22,795 girls playing in 23/24, marking a 9.3% year-on-year increase.
- £2,685,000 invested in upgrading club facilities make them more welcoming for females.
- 7,800 more girls introduced to rugby through grants supporting U12 activity.
- Over 300 sanitary packages delivered to clubs nationwide, with around 1,000 sanitary products.
This investment is already having a significant impact. A recent survey found that 94% of new participants felt that the new activities at rugby clubs made them feel part of their community, while 82% of new coaches and match officials said they had developed skills that would benefit both their personal and professional lives.
Red Rose Morwenna Talling said: “This is a huge year from women’s rugby with a World Cup on home soil. It’s been fantastic to see the sport taken up by increasing numbers of women and girls and Impact ‘25 is a really important part of helping to create the right environment for anyone who wants to try out rugby.
“The sport has given me so much and I’d really encourage everyone to get down to their local club and give it a try.”
