'Development of women in rugby is the single greatest opportunity for our sport to grow in the next decade'

World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont believes women’s rugby will be rugby’s next massive growth sector. 

Ahead of World Rugby Council convening in Dublin this Wednesday, Beaumont launched a new Women in Rugby brand identity and landmark global campaign ‘Try and Stop Us’. It is aimed at driving increased participation and engagement among fans, audiences, players and investors in the women’s game.

He said: "We firmly believe that the development of women in rugby is the single greatest opportunity for our sport to grow in the next decade, which is why we are proud to share our exciting new brand identity. 

"Not only is women’s rugby experiencing unprecedented growth around the world but we are well on the way to realising our vision of a more equitable game for all through the implementation of our ambitious strategic women’s action plan, which is having a transformational effect on all areas of the game. 

"From the highest levels of the sport’s governance to grassroots participation, we are wholly committed to driving gender-balance and ensuring that women have equal opportunities both on and off the field, driving increased involvement and engagement in the women’s game from fans, audiences, players and investors." 

The new global campaign is using the inspiring stories of 15 women and girls involved in rugby at all levels of the game from around the world to highlight the “unstoppable” message at the heart of the campaign. 

They have challenged barriers to participation and demonstrated how rugby has empowered them to get where they are today, both on and off the pitch.

World Rugby claim women’s rugby is one of sport’s great success stories, experiencing unprecedented growth around the world. Participation levels are at an all-time high with 2.7 million players globally – making up more than a quarter of the global playing population – and a 28 per cent increase in registered players since 2017. 

They added that for the second year running, more young girls have got into rugby globally than boys and more than 40 per cent of rugby’s 400 million fanbase are female.

World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper said: "By launching this unique brand identity and proposition we are demonstrating our unwavering commitment to growing participation and exposure for women’s rugby around the globe, a core strand of the women in rugby action plan. 

"The campaign – Try and Stop Us – is a call to action designed to drive engagement with the women’s game by showcasing unstoppable women in rugby around the world. It focuses on celebrating the unique values of rugby and aligns with our overarching message, Rugby Builds Character. 

“We want to communicate to every female across that globe, that when you choose to start playing rugby, it has the power to make you unstoppable."

World Rugby believe they are one of sport’s most inclusive organisations, highlighting how their council will convene on Wednesday in Ireland with 17 female members in position for the first time – the largest-ever representation of women on council – following the transformational governance reform introduced in 2017.

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