We can no longer excuse women's rugby players wearing men's kits
What players wear matters. Rugby kit, from boots right through to shirts, is not unisex. Any female player who has played at grassroots level in oversized men’s kit will tell you it isn’t fun, so why are we still seeing this issue at the elite level of the game?
Women need to be in kit that is specially designed for their job, you wouldn’t send a female firefighter into a blaze with protective gear that was 3 sizes too big, so why are we doing the this on the pitch?
Over Christmas, both Harlequins and Adidas where criticised across social media for their use of unisex kit at the Big Game 13, a double header which saw both the men’s and women’s squads run out at Twickenham. The kit, which was supposedly designed for both teams saw the women’s team run out in oversized ill-fitting shirts. Players even took to Twitter after the match to joke about playing in their “Khaki Dresses”.
We loved our khaki dresses?
Let’s celebrate how incredible today was. Over 9000 people turned up to watch US play at HQ AND it was live on BT Sport.
Women’s rugby is on the rise and we can’t wait to see where the future takes us. Like Burf said, it’s all about the badge? https://t.co/Cs7JnTZuGp
— Rosie Galligan (@rosie_galligan) December 27, 2021
Often with women’s sportswear the “Shrink it and pink it” way of thinking is applied to design and development of kit. However, as Exeter’s Jess Thomas explains below, the size difference between props alone in the Premier 15’s highlights why this isn’t suitable. Women need kit that is specifically designed for them, and that takes into consideration not just the differences between men and women but the differences amongst women too.
We aren’t mini men. If you’re lucky to have women’s cut shirts, in the kit bag the largest tends to be an 18, and normally only 1/2 to share between 4 props. The size variation between @Premier15s props, let alone other all the other positions means we can’t just have “one fit” https://t.co/zP5om2Cbf7
— Jess Thomas (@Jess_Thomas1999) December 28, 2021
To those who say the poor fitting kit should be overlooked, I would say that kit isn’t just a superficial item, its evocative of so much more for both the players and the audience. This isn’t about a piece of clothing, its bigger than that, its about basic respect for players and the wider game.
The Big Game 13 was a career-defining moment for many players, players who would have run out at Twickenham for the first time live on BT Sport in front of a strong crowd. We shouldn’t be talking about the kit, but it’s a fundamental basic that unfortunately in this circumstance has been obviously overlooked.
This subsequent conversation doesn’t take away from the quality of play on show from both teams on the day, but it is an issue that we must acknowledge, discuss, and subsequently learn from.
When contacted for comment, Harlequins told RugbyPass: “Harlequins is glad to have seen both the Women’s and Men’s sides play in the official Big Game 13 jersey at Twickenham Stadium. The current jersey is manufactured in one fit, for both Men’s and Women’s teams by Adidas. The club is glad to confirm that as of next season, Harlequins Women will have a women’s fitted kit.”
I spoke exclusively to Sue Anstiss MBE, author and women’s sport activist.
“The oversized kit took us back to a time when the women’s team played in hand me down men’s jerseys, and that just wasn’t a great advert for the sport to those tuning in for the first time,” Anstiss told RugbyPass. “The bit I love about rugby is the variety of strong and powerful women you get to see, and that gets lost when it’s put under one big jersey – it’s not comfortable or flattering. Some of them even had their sleeves rolled up, which doesn’t look good and proves the kit wasn’t technically adequate for the women.”
“I wanted to be so positive about everything in the Big Game 13, but then you see things like this and it’s hard to be.”
These issues also extend far beyond time on the pitch and into supporter wear. England Rugby released their women’s jersey to fans and came under heavy scrutiny for not offering the jersey in a male cut. This works both ways, as research has shown that men make up a heavy portion of women’s sports fans, therefore the products on offer need to cater for this. As the sport grows and interest develops, we must ensure that products created reflect the growing development of the fan base.
Dear @EnglandRugby @UmbroUK @O2sports
It’s great you now have a dedicated #RedRoses shirt, I’m all for progress ??
But why is it not available for Men to wear, yet Women can wear Men’s designed shirts ?
Please rectify. Men support the Women’s game too. Thank you ?? pic.twitter.com/6ryvTpE9fs
— Ash ?? (@AshSportsPhotos) October 13, 2021
It seems this issue isn’t specific to women’s rugby and has indeed made its way into women’s football too, with one common theme: Adidas.
Arsenal’s Beth Mead took to Twitter to criticise the clothing company for a lack of women’s fit kit, the Tweet was later deleted but did prompt discussion among players and fans regarding the quality of women’s kit. Specifically, players explained how jackets in the FA Cup Final where only available in men’s sizing which subsequently made them look like a bag of potatoes.
whilst we’re on it, this is a translation of what lia wälti said about the jackets the team wore in the fa cup final ????? https://t.co/7Pr7bGtpFD pic.twitter.com/WlVgJkpevf
— ?? (@amy6amy) January 5, 2022
For all of Adidas’s failings, they aren’t the only kit provider out there for women’s rugby stash. Ruggette RFC, founded by Premier 15’s player Stef Evans, specialises in female-specific rugby kit. The company is known for its well-fitting shorts, which feature a flat lay thick waistband and specifically designed variable leg openings which give full coverage to players whilst also looking great.
In a first, the brand designed a female-focused kit that could be worn by both men and women for the Bournemouth Sevens festival last summer. Olympian and Wasp’s player Abi Burton lead the team ‘Bryan’s Lions’ out and the complements of the kit kept flowing strong. It begs the question, if one company can do this and do it so well that it’s orders skyrocket the next day, why couldn’t the same be done for the Big Game 13?
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Participation in women’s rugby is already restricted enough as it is, we do not need yet another factor to limit this participation.
Barriers into sport have never been so high, so I would urge every team from grassroots upwards, to speak and communicate with their players to ensure the kit they are expected to run out in is suitable for purpose. The days of wearing men’s hand-me-downs are over, so why are we still accepting it in 2022.
Times have changed and the management of the women’s game needs to keep pace.
Comments on RugbyPass
This is short sighted from Clayton if you ask me, smacks of too much preseason planning and no adaptability. What if DMac is out for a must win match, are they still only going to bring their best first five and playmaker on late in the game? Trusting the game to someone who wasn’t even part of planning (they would have had Trask pinned in as Jacomb preseason). Perhaps if the Crusaders were better they would not have done this, but either way imo you take this opportunity to play a guy you might need starting in a final rather than having their 12th game getting comfortable coming off the bench.
1 Go to commentsThanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.
21 Go to commentsWhat a load of bollocks. The author has forgotten to mention the fact that the Crusaders have a huge injury toll with top world class players out. Not to mention the fact that they are obviously in a transition period. No this will not spark a slow death for NZ rugby, but it does mean there will be a new Super Rugby champion. Anyone who knows anything about NZ rugby knows that there is some serious talent here, it just isn’t all at the Crusaders.
2 Go to commentsI wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
4 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
7 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to comments