I fear fewer women will take up rugby post-pandemic
Last week, I virtually attended The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards, an annual celebration of the best women across all sport. It was a good night for rugby union, with Barnes RFC player Zainab Alema winning the Vitality Grassroots Player of the Year award.
Alema, who is affectionately known as ‘Bulldozer’ by her teammates (and called it in spite by opposition) is also a neo-natal nurse, mum of three children under four, and charity worker. I am yet to confirm if she actually sleeps at all, but I am thoroughly impressed by her. I left the virtual awards ceremony with a buzz; women’s sport has come so far in the past five years, and to have a women’s rugby player win an award was the cherry on top.
Congratulations to @AlemaZainab who was named Grassroots Sportswoman of the Year at last night's @thesundaytimes #SWOTY Awards ??
Her story ? https://t.co/V1KZyoTy5B pic.twitter.com/tOM4F6nLoq
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 26, 2020
But as the week went on, I began to worry that the coronavirus pandemic has caused irreversible damage to this progress. Women’s sport has failed to resurrect with the same intensity that it had before the pandemic. For months, after men’s sport came back, there was little (if any) women’s sport to watch on television. For women’s rugby, the Allianz Premier 15s is back, but fans can’t watch it on television. Fans of the league are left watching via Facebook, the dodgy links I mentioned last week, or just clips of sensational tries shared on social media.
In my column last week, I said how brilliant it was to have international women’s rugby on BBC Two, and how accessible it has become to watch. I’ve argued for better coverage of both men’s and women’s rugby because in the long term, rugby desperately needs more fans and players. But recent research from Sport England has left me concerned that despite the progress women’s rugby has made, and despite the better coverage, the women’s game will fall behind.
Sport England found that the ‘exercise gap’ between men and women expanded during the height of the pandemic to ten percent; ten percent more men were exercising than women. In fact, there are 313,600 fewer women than men who are regularly active in England. According to the same research, this exercise gap is due to women taking on more household responsibilities, as well as childcare and home-schooling, than men during the pandemic. There will be men shaking their heads at this point I’m sure, and this is not to say men do not have a role in household chores and childcare, but this is the anecdotal evidence provided to Sport England.
At the same time as women are becoming less active than men, there is also the worry that rugby, like most sports, is at great risk of losing a number of our grassroots players after a prolonged time away from the sport.
Grassroots rugby is, like most things, allowed in various levels depending on where you live and train, but the rules are difficult to navigate. In Scotland, all levels of lockdown allow physically distanced training, but unrestricted and full contact training is not allowed, nor are friendly matches. In England, there are six stages on the RFU’s ‘return to rugby road map’ for the community game. At the moment, England is in stage one (or ‘A’ as the RFU calls it) which allows individual training with one other person, maintaining physical distance and no equipment sharing. In Wales, touch rugby matches between local clubs have just been sanctioned by the WRU, with some restrictions to training, including no contact or huddles. In Northern Ireland, all rugby below the elite level is suspended, and there is a five-stage return to rugby in Ireland similar to the British nations.
For someone new to the game, the idea of scrummaging or tackling – where social distancing is impossible – would be more terrifying than usual, even if no grassroots coach would seriously suggest this sort of training at the moment. For many, joining a new sport is just seen as an unnecessary risk.
Take these concerns about rugby on top of the research suggesting that women are less likely to exercise, and you’re left with a worrying image for women’s rugby at the grassroots level. There are many ways that clubs can help women come back to rugby and to recruit new female players. In my opinion, the best thing that clubs can do is make it entirely clear what training involves, including what the safety protocols are. The rules are confusing to navigate, and people in your area might not be sure if they are allowed to join in or not. If they are nervous, invite them to come and watch a session before they take part.
Clubs can do more to help with childcare for mums and dads too. I’ve seen some grassroots women’s teams have a childcare rota, where mums take it in turns to look after all children during a training session or can nominate a partner to come and help. One club told me they ‘employ’ the children as coaches, touch judges and referees to help out during training sessions. This is all so easy to do and can really help to make mums feel welcome at your rugby club, as well as make the little ones feel involved.
One thing that I love about my club, Epping Upper Clapton RFC, is that I play with women whose husbands and boyfriends play for the men’s teams, and their children are involved in the junior section. To involve women in rugby, clubs need to make sure their club is as inclusive and accessible for women as possible.
We know that interest in the elite women’s game is growing. Rugby is not going to be the sport for all female fans, like it isn’t the sport for all men who enjoy watching rugby, but there are many who may just too be nervous to give it a go at the moment. If that’s you, please get in touch with your local rugby club. I’m yet to find a women’s team who turn down new players, we all desperately want more to join our game. You don’t need boots, a gumshield, or anything really. You can just turn up in any sportswear and trainers and give it a go. You might hate it, but you might just love it.
Comments on RugbyPass
I'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
13 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
19 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
19 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
13 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
19 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
13 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
13 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to commentsRodda will be a walk up starter at lock. Frost if you analyse his dominance has little impact and he’s a long way from being physical enough, especially when you compare to Rodda and the work he does. He was quite poor at the World Cup in his lack of physicality. Between Rodda and Skelton we would have locks who can dominate the breakdown and in contact. Frost is maybe next but Schmidt might go for a more physical lock who does their core work better like Ryan or LSL. Swain is no chance unless there’s a load of injuries. Pollard hasn’t got the scrum ability yet to be considered. Nasser dominated him when they went toe to toe and really showed him up. Picking Skelton effects who can play 6 and 8. Ideally Valetini would play 6 as that’s his best position and Wilson at 8 but that’s not ideal for lineout success. Cale isn’t physical enough yet in contact and defence but is the best backrow lineout jumper followed by Wright, Hanigan and Swinton so unfortunately Valetini probably will start at 8 with Wright or Hanigan at 6. Wilson on the bench, he’s got too much quality not to be in the squad. Paisami is leading the way at 12 but Hamish Stewart is playing extremely well also and his ball carrying has improved significantly. Beale is also another option based on the weekend. Beale is class but he’s also the best communicator of any Australian backline player and that can’t be underestimated, he’ll be in the mix.
8 Go to commentsWhy do people keep on picking Ardie at 7 when he's a ball in hand 8? A modern 7 is the lead tackler and ruck clearer which isn't his strength.
19 Go to commentsSly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
13 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
2 Go to comments