women
international women
The number of girls playing rugby age in clubs in the England it has increased by 49% in the last four years.
The sport’s governing body in England has released a report outlining the key results of Impact ’25, the transformative Women’s Championship Rugby World Cup The 2025 Legacy Program delivered by the RFU in partnership with the UK Government, Sport England and UK Sport. The program has seen a huge increase in the participation of women and girls.
Over four years, Impact ’25 has invested over £14.55 million in government funding between 2022 and March 2026.
During that time, participation in girls’ clubs increased 49%, from 18,000 to 26,800. 40,000 girls aged 6 to 12 were introduced to rugby during the same period. Participation of women in funded universities increased by 38%.
In total, £6.8m of Impact ’25 funding was used to improve club facilities. One of the issues the project aimed at was improving the club’s facilities which were not set up to accommodate the growth of women’s and girls’ rugby.
Over four years, 1,078 facility grants were awarded to 607 clubs. Grants have been used to develop or upgrade changing rooms, toilets and social areas, improve sanitary conditions for women in clubs and create a more women-friendly club environment.
In the same period, women completed 5,449 official courses for coaches and matches. A third of these courses are funded by Impact ’25. 28% of newly qualified coaches and match officials were women, compared to 9% before the project.
There has also been a dramatic increase in the number of women completing advanced coaching or refereeing courses. Prior to Impact ’25, 20 women completed advanced coaching or refereeing courses, but during the program, 109 women completed those courses.
Alex Teasdale, Chief Executive of the RFU Women’s Game, said: “The moment the Red Roses lifted the World Cup was never meant to be an end point. The ambition was to create lasting change for women and girls in rugby.
“More women and girls are playing, coaching and refereeing rugby today than ever before. Facilities have improved, opportunities have expanded and clubs have worked hard to create a more welcoming, inclusive environment in which women and girls can thrive. Across England, we’ve seen communities come together to break down barriers, challenge perceptions of participants and open doors to a new generation.
“This is a great effort of clubs, volunteers and partners. Thank you to everyone who has dedicated so much time and energy to the growth and strengthening of the women’s and girls’ game.”
“The RFU is committed to building on the momentum of the legacy programme. We want to continue to increase the number of women and girls who experience all that rugby has to offer – confidence, enjoyment, skills, friendships, leadership and competition – and ensure they can do so in truly inclusive environments.”
Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said: “Being at the Allianz Stadium on that historic day last summer was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had as a Sports Minister – and we promised that this would only be the beginning. A year on, it’s fantastic to see the legacy of the Red Roses continue to grow.
“As a government, we are proud to support the Impact ’25 programme, helping rugby clubs across the country become more welcoming and accessible, and supporting more women and girls to play the game.”
