Our research
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Our research *
Women of Union has partnered with Leeds Beckett University (LBU) to commission a significant piece of research to understand the experiences and motivations of women working in rugby.
We worked with the Centre for Social Justice in Sport and Society (CSJ), in the Carnegie School of Sport at LBU, to produce research to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and motivation of women who work in and around the sport of rugby union and better understand the barriers they face, so that they can be supported more effectively.
Key Findings
Diverse roles, shared challenges: Women largely work across coaching, player support, media, marketing, development, and leadership roles, but 72% feel they must be better than male colleagues to succeed.
Barriers to progression: The biggest challenges for women in the game include stereotypes and discrimination, lack of flexibility, unclear career pathways, and cultural barriers.
Lack of diversity: 91% of respondents identified as white, highlighting the need to address racial inequalities and representation in rugby’s workforce.
Optimism for change: Despite barriers, 85% of women remain optimistic about the future, and 92% believe more can be done to improve opportunities for women in the game.
Recommendations for change
The report calls on rugby stakeholders to:
Reform recruitment and career pathways – Create transparent, structured routes into rugby roles with targeted professional development opportunities.
Build stronger support networks – Move beyond mentoring to sponsorship and allyship, ensuring women have advocates at every level.
Increase visibility and data – Share success stories, collect workforce data, and champion women leaders across the sport.
Commit to equity and cultural change – Set measurable targets, challenge stereotypes, and embed family-friendly and inclusive policies across rugby organisations.