Girls of any age are increasingly getting involved in Rugby, both in School and in amateur clubs.
At senior level, female teams are growing in popularity, giving the women’s game more exposure to new fans.
If you have a daughter or grand-daughter who has developed an interest in Rugby here’s what you need to know about the game, and specifically how girls experience rugby.
Can Girls Play Rugby?
Absolutely!
Both girls and boys can play Rugby Union, and there is now a path through to professional and national elite level female rugby.
Do boys and girls play rugby together?
At younger ages boys and girls often play rugby together.
At this stage the sport is non-contact, and it’s a lot more to to do with speed and agility than physical strength.
In the UK and Ireland, girls play in mixed “mini rugby” under the age of 12.
There are still girl teams for this age but these are not as common as mixed teams.
After the age of 12 girls and boys are no longer allowed to play mixed games.
This is because of introduction of contact and the physical and developmental differences between girls and boys.
Do girls have age-grade rugby teams?
Yes – but the age brands are usually wider than for boys.
The rugby age bands for girls are usually under 12, under 14, under 16 and under 18.
Age grade boys Rugby usually group players together who are in the same academic year. This is possible because of their greater numbers of players.
It is likely that the leading governing bodies will introduce more age bands for girls in the future. It is a matter of waiting for participation to increase.
What if my Rugby club doesn’t have a girls team for my child’s age?
Unfortunately, not all clubs can offer all age bands due to lack of female players.
To deal with this, some areas have created “club clusters”.
In a club cluster, multiple clubs combine their teams at an age group where they lack numbers.
This team then competes in regular competition.
Girls only clubs, festivals and training camps are becoming more common so keep your ear to the ground and you should find an opportunity local to you.
Are the Rules of rugby for girls different to boys?
When girls play at the ages of 12 and over they follow the regulations of their country’s main governing body.
These rules follow the guidelines of World Rugby, sometimes with some modification.
The gameplay becomes increasingly advanced as the players progress through the age grades.
This follows the World Rugby model that aims to introduce more complex aspects of the game in stages. The boys’ age grade rules follow the same model with some differences.
For example, at under 14 levels for girls Rugby in Scotland, players pass the ball from touch when it goes out of play.
It is not the same for boys of that age in Scotland, who use an uncontested lineout with up to 5 players lining up.
Rules differ for girls between countries as well.
Unlike in Scotland, under 14 girls in Wales do use an uncontested lineout. They are also allowed to lift a jumper at this level.
This means gameplay can be a little different for girls depending on where you are playing.
Can Girls become Professional Rugby Players?
Yes – if they’re good enough!
In professional rugby, the senior women’s game has grown year on year.
Increased broadcasting has exposed the world to the talents of the female game.
The world cup in 2022 achieved high viewership and the final sold out Eden Park stadium in New Zealand.
Professional and semi-professional contracts are now offered to many top female players.
This awards the talent of female athletes and allows them to devote more of their time to the sport.
This also increases the prestige of women’s rugby in the eyes of the public and young players.
England has been one of the most successful countries in promoting women’s Rugby.
It boasts the world’s first semi-professional female club competition, the Allianz Premier 15s.
Despite these strides at club level, international competition generates the most revenue.
Levels of professionalism in the female game are still inconsistent between countries.
However there is still a long way to go in terms of partity with the men’s game, particularly around wages.
Professional female rugby players often have to take second jobs even in international squads.
Should I encourage my daughter to play rugby?
Absolutely!
There’s so many benefits to playing rugby including physical fitness, mental robustness, teamwork and friendship.
As the woman’s sport grows worldwide, the momentum is encouraging and women’s Rugby has seemed to have taken on a life of its own in recent years.
It is no longer defined in the eyes of many as being only the female version of a male sport.
The dialogue has changed and there has never been a better time for young girls to get into Rugby!
Before you go…
Check out our Hacks For Parents New To Rugby to help answer any questions you have and ones you haven’t even thought of yet!
