Spotlight on health & wellbeing for women in sport
The RFU recently brought together worldwide experts from across rugby and other sports to share knowledge and concerns and establish priority focus areas for the short and longer term to address the health and wellbeing of female athletes.
These advanced discussions aimed to shine a light on the gaps, as well as the great work already being done by some organisations.
The initial Women’s Health and Wellbeing Symposium for Rugby Union in England comes in advance of the home Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025, with the RFU, working in partnership with a number of national and global bodies.
More than 30 delegates from around the world were there for the symposium at Gloucester Rugby’s Kingsholm Stadium. All were keen to work together to benefit the growing population of female players, with provision, education, programmes and research.
Building on current work.
The RFU’s women’s health work is led by Dr Karen Jones, Clinical Services Lead who has 32 caps for England, and was captain in 2008.
Dr Jones says: “While some excellent women and girls’ health projects are happening more is needed. This symposium and closer coordination between the elite and girls pathways and also the community game will, hopefully, ensure more effective strategic prioritisation.”
The symposium session was opened by Dr Sheree Bekker of the University of Bath, whose research focuses on feminist perspectives of sport and athleticism.
She says: "I was delighted to witness the progress the RFU is making in advancing women's and girls’ health in sport. My keynote focused on the need for a justice-oriented approach that challenges outdated norms and ensures the health and wellbeing of all athletes, promoting inclusivity, equality, and respect."
The symposium recognised that current work is predominantly delivered by medical teams and, as recognised in the UK Government strategy, should extend beyond the healthcare team, with a multidisciplinary approach. Increased visibility of work being done would help all women and girls involved in rugby, and other sports, gain more and appropriate health and wellbeing support.
Player welfare number one priority
Chief of Women’s Rugby at World Rugby, Sally Horrox says: “Player welfare is rugby’s number one priority, and that principle applies to the health and wellbeing of women and girl rugby players at all levels of the game. World Rugby continues to fund and support research into the game and ways to constantly improve both the sport and everything that comes with it for female players, ensuring all our funded research contains a minimum of 50 per cent female players in the group being studied.
“Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 will be a generational moment for our game around the world. Rugby as a sport is fully focussed on ensuring that generational shift applies to the health and wellbeing of all women and girls at whatever level they compete.”
Commitments made
The RFU has made the following commitments some of which will be immediate, and some requiring further lobbying and a long-term approach:
- To further empower everyone involved in women’s rugby from our players, to our commercial partners, to our decision makers, to have open conversations about women’s health
- To embed the question, ‘How does this impact on women’s health?’ into strategic decision making at all levels within the RFU
- To support the drive for a cohesive approach to women’s health, reflecting our diverse society, across and beyond English rugby
- To continue provide coach and player education on women’s health across all levels of the game
- To support girls to remain involved in rugby environments as they transition through puberty
- To support women and girls to meet the demands of rugby
- To empower and support players to become parents alongside their rugby career
- To play our part in developing a network of women’s health sports specialists across England
- To work collaboratively across unions and World Rugby, to ensure the right programme of research is in place to address rugby specific women’s health questions
- To continue to challenge ourselves to provide open, supportive environments where female players are safe and valued
Alex Teasdale, Executive Director of Women's Game, said: “This was a significant step in levelling the playing field for women and girls so that we can ensure they have the health and wellbeing support they need in an environment that serves all. As we head towards Rugby World Cup 25, and with a huge focus on the tournament, it is an ideal time to shine a light on this topic and bring people together to make meaningful improvements for all women and girls involved in sport.”
For information on the RFU’s current resources in women’s health and wellbeing click here:
https://www.englandrugby.com/run/player-welfare/women-girls-health-wellbeing
