40,000 Girls Brought Into Rugby as Women’s Game Surges Across England
Image: Sport England
A four-year legacy programme connected to the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 has introduced around 40,000 girls aged six to 12 to rugby in England, according to a new Rugby Football Union (RFU) report.
The findings show significant growth in women’s and girls’ rugby, with more players joining clubs, more women qualifying as coaches and match officials, and hundreds of clubs improving their facilities.
The programme, known as Impact ’25, was delivered by the RFU in partnership with the UK Government, Sport England and UK Sport. It was designed to ensure that England’s hosting of the Women’s Rugby World Cup created lasting opportunities beyond the tournament itself.
The progress will be of interest to families across the UK, including Sri Lankan and South Asian communities looking for welcoming sporting opportunities for children and young people.
Girls’ club participation rises by 49%
One of the most notable outcomes has been the increase in girls’ club participation.
The number of girls playing rugby at clubs rose by 49%, from around 18,000 to 26,800 players during the four-year programme.
Impact ’25 also helped introduce approximately 40,000 girls aged six to 12 to rugby. The initiative focused on building an early connection with the sport and encouraging more girls to continue playing through schools, universities and community clubs.
Women’s participation at supported universities increased by 38%. This is an important part of the player pathway, helping more women move from school and university rugby into adult community clubs.
The growth reflects a wider change in the sport. Rugby is increasingly offering opportunities not only to players, but also to coaches, referees, volunteers and club organisers.
Investment has helped clubs become more welcoming
Impact ’25 was supported by £13.6 million of government funding administered by Sport England.
Overall, £14.55 million of government funding was committed to rugby in England and the home unions up to the end of March 2026. This included the £13.6 million administered by Sport England and takes Sport England’s total investment in the RFU to more than £30 million since 2022.
A major part of the programme involved improving the facilities available to women and girls.
During the four years:
- 1,078 grants were awarded
- 607 clubs received support
- Changing rooms and toilets were upgraded
- Social spaces were refurbished
- Female sanitary provisions were improved
Sport England invested £6.8 million in facilities. This encouraged clubs to secure additional support, with clubs raising a further £14.8 million during the programme.
These improvements can make a practical difference to families considering whether their children should join a local club. Suitable changing rooms, clean facilities, social areas and appropriate sanitary provisions all help create a more comfortable and inclusive environment.
Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Sport England’s executive director for partnerships and place, said:
> “Women’s rugby has real momentum right now, and the focus is turning that excitement into lasting opportunities for women and girls to play, coach and get involved. Our investment, alongside programmes like Impact ’25, is helping turn the inspiration of the Red Roses and the Women’s Rugby World Cup into greater participation – creating a future with more women and girls in rugby and more clubs equipped to welcome them.”
More women are becoming coaches and officials
The programme also focused on creating more opportunities for women to take leadership roles within rugby.
Over the four years, women completed 5,449 coaching and match official courses. Nearly one-third of these courses were funded through Impact ’25, helping to remove course fees as a barrier.
Women accounted for 28% of newly qualified coaches and match officials, compared with just 9% before the programme began.
A stronger network of women coaches and referees can provide additional encouragement for girls entering the sport. It also creates valuable opportunities for women who want to develop leadership, communication, organisational and technical skills.
For many community clubs, volunteers are central to the experience offered to young players. Increasing the number of qualified women involved in coaching and officiating can help clubs reflect the families and communities they serve.
Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said:
> “Being at Allianz Stadium on that historic day last summer was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had as Sports Minister – and we promised then it would be just the start. A year on, it is fantastic to see the Red Roses’ legacy continuing to grow. As a Government, we have been proud to support the Impact ’25 programme, helping rugby clubs all over the country become more welcoming and accessible, and supporting more women and girls to play the game.”
Building on the Red Roses’ World Cup success
The England women’s team, known as the Red Roses, lifted the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 trophy at the Allianz Stadium.
The RFU has presented that achievement as a starting point for long-term growth rather than the conclusion of the programme.
Image: Sport England
Alex Teasdale, the RFU’s executive director of the women’s game, said:
> “The moment of the Red Roses lifting the World Cup was never intended to be an end point. The ambition was to create lasting change for women and girls in rugby. Today, more women and girls are playing, coaching and officiating rugby than ever before. Facilities have improved, opportunities have expanded, and clubs have worked hard to create more welcoming, inclusive environments where women and girls can thrive.”
The RFU has now launched a five-year plan called Every Rose: Our Time.
The plan aims to achieve 100,000 active female players by 2030, including 70,000 players registered with clubs.
The RFU has also partnered with Women in Sport and launched a standalone policy on anti-sexism and misogyny. It is the first major British sport to introduce a separate policy of this kind.
The measures are intended to support a safer and more respectful sporting environment, while encouraging more women and girls to remain involved in rugby throughout their lives.
What this means for families in the UK
The growth of girls’ club rugby provides more choices for families seeking local sporting activities.
For Sri Lankan families, British Sri Lankan families and other South Asian communities across the UK, the expansion means that more local clubs may now offer improved facilities, girls’ sections, women coaches and more structured pathways into community rugby.
There is no single national figure for Sri Lankan participation in girls’ rugby, but families interested in the sport can look up their nearest RFU-affiliated club and ask about girls’ training, age groups, beginner sessions, fees and available equipment.
Parents may also wish to ask whether the club provides introductory sessions for children who have never played rugby before. Many community clubs welcome beginners and provide guidance on safe participation.
Readers can explore local community information through eLanka’s UK associations directory and useful links, while families looking for wider Sri Lankan community coverage can visit the eLanka homepage.
The Impact ’25 results show how major sporting events can create lasting benefits when investment reaches schools, universities and grassroots clubs. For women and girls across England, the next phase will be about making sure that progress continues on the pitch and throughout the wider rugby community.
Sources
- Big Up Britain: 40,000 girls brought into rugby as women’s game surges across England
- Sport England: Our funding helps grow girls’ and women’s rugby
- RFU: Impact ’25 final report – executive summary
- RFU: Four years of growth in women’s and girls’ rugby through Impact ’25 investment
- RFU: Every Rose: Our Time action plan
Thanks.
eLanka team