Oceania Rugby’s Unstoppable Women in Rugby month has been deemed successful, proving to be an exceptional event for Oceania Rugby, celebrating women’s involvement in the game.
With a global increase of more than 200% of registered female rugby players over the last six years, the exponential growth of the sport among women and girls had been earmarked to be one of the biggest stories to be told.
Across the five weeks of September 2020, women in the region from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu all joined together in celebrating the involvement of women in rugby.
Growing the support for women in rugby had been a key component of the campaign which showcased the success and contributions of women in all aspects of the game as officials, coaches and leaders in decision making.
Oceania Rugby’s Sport for Development Manager, Erin Hatton, said there has been such an overwhelming response to the way in which so many countries have got behind the Women in Rugby month.
“Oceania Rugby’s first ever Women in Rugby Month has been outstanding,” Hatton said.
“We have been overwhelmed with the way in which so many countries have got behind it with scores of excellent activities run right across the region; from women-only courses in Coaching and Strength & Conditioning, online forums for Match Officials, World Rugby Educators and Women on Boards, Equal Playing Field and Get in Rugby Festivals, and Mums in Rugby programs,” she added.
The impressive array of development activity had been matched by the celebration of the exceptional women and girls involved in all parts of the game at events, in news and social media.
“The interest and vigour with which girls and women have grabbed these opportunities shows that no matter your size, shape or story, there is a place for you in rugby. It shows that women’s rugby is coming of age and its growth is unstoppable,” Hatton said.
With the momentum gained through the successful Women in Rugby Month, the builds toward 2021 is earmarked as a golden year for women’s rugby, which will be with both an Olympic Games and a Rugby World Cup has been tremendous.
“Thank you to the hard-working staff, volunteers and rugby devotees in all our Member Unions for making #OceaniaUnstoppable Women in Rugby Month such a success,” Hatton added.
Most countries and member unions in Oceania are joining the campaign delivering local girls/women’s focused initiatives, participating in the Oceania Rugby led forums, professional development networks and training opportunities and sharing stories of their local Women in Rugby champions.
Words from Oceania Rugby