World Rugby pledges to “fix the lack of investment” in women’s rugby

The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021 (postponed to 2022) ended on Saturday, November 12 at New Zealand’s second consecutive title. The Black Ferns, who retained their world title by dominating England in the final, were ranked number one^time place in the ranking the scientist.

The competition was a real popular success, with Signed attendance records during opening day It is final toGarden of Eden Auckland, and allowed women’s rugby to continue its democratization. But this is still not enough, according to World Rugby which, through the voice of its president, has pledged to Corrected some bugs related to the historical underinvestment in women’s rugby. In fact, before the final of the Women’s World Cup in Auckland, the president of the world rugby team, Bill Beaumontand its general manager, Alan Gilpinon women’s rugby funding levels over the years.

“There are a lot of mouths to feed,” says Beaumont.

Noting that World Rugby should not apologize for the historic lack of investment in women’s rugby, the world body has nonetheless committed to addressing the situation with the help of unions, as the New Zealand media reports. things. “I don’t think we have to apologize for that. It obviously needed more investment, but every union should invest as well. We can’t do this in isolation, but in partnership with our member unions,” Beaumont said.

“We can’t dictate how they are [les syndicats membres] They spend their money. I think there has been an investment in women’s rugby 7, because it’s an Olympic sport. But one of the results of this Rugby World Cup is that the whole world has watched it and some countries are going to be like, “We have to invest in their products,” Beaumont added. “Every country gets a bounty from World Rugby… There are plenty of mouths to feed. We think this [Coupe du monde] It will be a catalyst to stimulate investment.”

Alan Gilpin endorsed the words of its president, Bill Beaumont. “It’s not about apologizing. It means there’s definitely been a lack of investment in women’s rugby. It’s not just something we have the opportunity to change, to be positive…but let’s understand why, let’s understand the realities of the challenges it creates,” he said. “What we tried to do…isn’t just show the world how great women’s rugby is. [mais] Being upfront about where we are now and where we are trying to go. Gilpin said it was time to consider changes to women’s rugby, but in a sustainable way. “It’s not about throwing money at him, it’s aboutInvest in the right places. We’re investing a lot in structuring and women’s rugby. “It’s a young sport as a professional sport, and we have to do it right.”

World Rugby is committed to 40% female representation on all of its boards of directors

The Women’s World Cup in New Zealand is the first Rugby World Cup to feature professional teams and charge for tickets, and is also the first to have female players stay in hotels. During the last World Cup, in 2017 in Ireland, they were all housed in university housing. Evidence that women’s rugby is moving in the right direction.

World Rugby did not recognize the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991 in Wales, so some players had to collect donations to attend. This event was not recognized by World Rugby until 1998, during the 3^e Disputed edition in the Netherlands. Apart from the Six Nations Championship and the World Cup, there is no other women’s competition at the international level.

But this will change in 2023 with the creation of the WXV (Women XV), a new world championship for women, which is organized every year outside the World Cup from September to October and in which 16 countries participate, distributed in three levels with the formula of joining and relegation. The first WXV 1 level will combine the top 3 European teams from the Women’s 6 Nations Championship and the top 3 teams from a new interregional tournament between the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Women are also particularly underrepresented in sports management. World Rugby has only one woman on its 12-member board of directors. But Bill Beaumont said world rugby would make sure to be there 40% representation of women in all boards and committees.

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