Women Rugby Players Research Articles

“Women shouldn’t play rugby” – the gendered and embodied experiences of women players in rugby union

ABSTRACT Drawing on interview data, we use gender and embodiment literature to understand the experiences, attitudes, and behaviours of women rugby players in relation to tackle performance and safety. Sampling, data collection, and data analysis were guided by principles and techniques of the grounded theory method. Participants’ experiences illustrate the processes through which women struggle to claim space in rugby. Constraining gender norms, the inferiorisation of women’s athletic achievements, and inequitable playing conditions are at the centre of this struggle. Organisational support and cultural acceptance are predicated on conformity to masculinist models of performance and behaviour whilst preserving the ideals of femininity. However, women’s embodied persistence and agency can challenge the gendered status quo in rugby and reshape the field of play. Revising rugby structures to include more nuanced models for performance development, including commensurate support for the women’s game both in financial sense and in terms of identity could enhance safety and performance in women’s rugby.

Women's rugby for all: Toward an intersectional women's rugby research agenda.

Women rugby players are participating in the sport at the highest levels to date. However, despite this increase in participation, sports sciences and sports medicine/sports physiotherapy (SEMS) research output has not mirrored this increase. Females have hormonally mediated anatomical and physiological profiles, which may have implications for rugby performance, injury risk and rehabilitation outcomes. However, hormonal fluctuations and the physiological differences between the sexes are not the only contributors to sex-related differences in the rugby experience. Rugby is a highly gendered environment, which operates within a hegemonic masculine norm and marginalises female and women athletes. Further, while women players in general are underrepresented in sports sciences and SEMS research, women rugby players and experts from ethnic minorities and the Global South are near invisible in the literature as they are marginalised on multiple fronts. Sports sciences and SEMS research should take an intersectional lens to investigate the joint relationship between the various sources of inequity in rugby. Intersectional research in women rugby players would encourage the conceptualisation and analysis of the complex social inequalities that the most marginalised women players and those who simultaneously negotiate multiple identities experience. Such data can better inform federation-level interventions and policy changes to address the needs of historically marginalised player populations as our research portfolio will be more representative of the world's rugby population.

'Probably just sexism'- gendered experiences of resource access in rugby.

Research pertaining to the experiences of women in rugby is scarce, which, coupled with the limited visibility of the sport and difficulty accessing resources, suggest that women's rugby remains undervalued. Indeed, evidence of such gender inequalities remains largely anecdotal, with little rigorous research undertaken to understand the perspectives of women in rugby. This study aimed to explore the experiences of a diverse cohort of rugby players in relation to their participation in the sport and their ability to access resources. Twenty UK-based rugby players (10 men, 9 women and 1 non-binary person aged 29.1 ± 8.3 years) from school, university, club, military, and semi-professional environments, volunteered to participate in semi-structured interviews (36 ± 12 minutes) discussing their rugby experiences in relation to their gender and playing level. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a reflexive thematic analysis was undertaken. A widespread under-prioritisation of women in rugby was highlighted. Gender biases were apparent in access to changing rooms, pitches, quality coaches, and playing opportunities, and were reportedly propagated at the managerial level. Irrespective of gender, some amateur players reported difficulty accessing a suitable rugby environment. Insufficient player numbers precluded the formation of second teams, often resulting in inexperienced players competing beyond their ability. Women's rugby players experienced considerable gender bias. This exploratory study highlights a need to address such issues to protect player welfare. Interventions to change the culture in rugby clubs and increased representation of women in managerial positions in rugby are recommended to enact meaningful change.

Longitudinal changes in anthropometric, physiological, and physical qualities of international women's rugby league players.

This is the first study to assess longitudinal changes in anthropometric, physiological, and physical qualities of international women's rugby league players. Thirteen forwards and 11 backs were tested three times over a 10-month period. Assessments included: standing height and body mass, body composition measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), a blood panel, resting metabolic rate (RMR) assessed by indirect calorimetry, aerobic capacity (i.e.,[Formula: see text]) evaluated by an incremental treadmill test, and isometric force production measured by a force plate. During the pre-season phase, lean mass increased significantly by ~2% for backs (testing point 1: 47 kg; testing point 2: 48 kg) and forwards (testing point 1: 50 kg; testing point 2: 51 kg) (p = ≤ 0.05). Backs significantly increased their [Formula: see text] by 22% from testing point 1 (40 ml kg-1 min-1) to testing point 3 (49 ml kg-1 min-1) (p = ≤ 0.04). The [Formula: see text] of forwards increased by 10% from testing point 1 (41 ml kg-1 min-1) to testing point 3 (45 ml kg-1 min-1), however this change was not significant (p = ≥ 0.05). Body mass (values represent the range of means across the three testing points) (backs: 68 kg; forwards: 77-78 kg), fat mass percentage (backs: 25-26%; forwards: 30-31%), resting metabolic rate (backs: 7 MJ day-1; forwards: 7 MJ day-1), isometric mid-thigh pull (backs: 2106-2180 N; forwards: 2155-2241 N), isometric bench press (backs: 799-822 N; forwards: 999-1024 N), isometric prone row (backs: 625-628 N; forwards: 667-678 N) and bloods (backs: ferritin 21-29 ug/L, haemoglobin 137-140 g/L, iron 17-21 umol/L, transferrin 3 g/L, transferring saturation 23-28%; forwards: ferritin 31-33 ug/L, haemoglobin 141-145 g/L, iron 20-23 umol/L, transferrin 3 g/L, transferrin saturation 26-31%) did not change (p = ≥ 0.05). This study provides novel longitudinal data which can be used to better prepare women rugby league players for the unique demands of their sport, underpinning female athlete health.

Assessing the feasibility of a neck‐strength training intervention in university women's rugby

AbstractCervical muscle strength has been demonstrated to reduce concussion risk in high school athletes, and interventions to improve this in male rugby players have elicited strength improvements. However, the feasibility of introducing neck‐strengthening interventions into women's rugby has not been investigated. This study sought to pilot a neck‐strength intervention in university‐level women's rugby players. A fixed‐frame dynamometer was used to assess the multi‐directional isometric neck‐strength of 14 university women's rugby players (20.3 ± 1.0 years). Between baseline and end‐of‐season testing, a neck‐strengthening program was completed. Interviews were conducted with six players and two coaches to understand program engagement. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and processed via inductive content analysis. Increases in absolute neck‐strength post‐intervention in left and right lateral flexion (left 85.4 ± 29.7 N to 108.2 ± 41.6 N, p = 0.02, right 87.4 ± 33.3 N to 110.5 ± 40.3 N, p = 0.01) and flexion (128.4 ± 28.8 N to 147.9 ± 30.5 N, p = 0.01) were perceived positively by the players although there were suggestions that greater adaptability according to training age and more variety was required. Participants initially demonstrated limited awareness of neck‐strength training but engaged well with the exercises once the potential benefits were understood. This intervention shows promise as an effective, palatable strategy to improve neck‐strength in university women's rugby players. Further research is needed to establish whether such improvements in neck‐strength are associated with meaningful reductions in head impact occurrence.

‘Male, violent and dangerous’: The gender prejudices in rugby from the perception of current and former athletes of the Brazil women's rugby 7's national team

Rugby is considered by many to be the antithesis of femininity because, since its creation, it has been a way for men to prove their masculinity. For this reason, the trajectory of women who practice it can be permeated with prejudices. The aim of this article is to advance the conceptual understanding of gender prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination, through an evaluation of the sports trajectory of cis women rugby players in Brazil. Ten female athletes, who are current or former athletes of the Brazil women's rugby 7's national team, were interviewed. They identified gender prejudice in relation to: (1) playing a sport considered masculine in which women should not take part; (2) being considered not to be able to practice it; (3) having bodies which do not fit the requirements of the ideal female body; (4) playing a violent sport; (5) trying to highlight attributes of femininity in publicity and press coverage. We conclude that, in the sport of rugby in Brazil, women are treated unfairly, with unequal salaries and limited opportunities. Moreover, they suffer prejudice and social pressure where they need to constantly reaffirm their sexuality, their femininity and their technical competence to play rugby.

Profiling Hormonal Contraceptive Use and Perceived Impact on Training and Performance in a Global Sample of Women Rugby Players.

The potential impact of hormonal contraceptives (HCs) on player health and performance in women's rugby union (rugby) is not well understood, despite rugby's growing popularity worldwide. This study investigated the prevalence of HC use and reported associations with training and performance in a global sample of women rugby players. A globally distributed online survey, seeking to explore experiences in women's rugby, was completed by 1596 current or former adult women 7s or 15s rugby players (mean age 27 [6]y; 7 [5]y playing experience) from 62 countries. The survey included a section of questions about reported HC use, including the type, reason for use, symptoms, and experiences relating to rugby training and performance. A total of 606 (38%) participants from 33 of the 62 (53%) countries reported using HCs, with the combined oral contraceptive pill reported as the most frequently used (44%). Almost half of participants using HCs (43%) tracked HC-related symptoms. Over 10% reported altered rugby performance due to HC-related symptoms, 22% required medication to manage symptoms, and 11% used HCs to control or stop their menstrual periods for rugby training and performance. The current study highlights the prevalence of HC use in women's rugby, identifying practices that may negatively affect performance, health, and well-being. Thus, there is an urgent need to better understand the motivations for such practices and knowledge of potential side effects among women rugby players across all levels and countries.

Mental Health Literacy Intervention to Reduce Stigma Toward Mental Health Symptoms and Disorders in Women Rugby Players: A Feasibility Study

This feasibility study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention on stigma toward mental health symptoms and disorders, mental health literacy, and help-seeking intentions among U.K. semielite women rugby players. Seven semielite women rugby players participated. An A-B-A single-case experimental research design was used to assess stigma toward mental health symptoms and disorders, mental health literacy, and help-seeking intentions at baseline, intervention, and follow-up phases. The intervention was successful in enhancing the players’ mental health literacy and reducing stigmatizing attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. Acknowledging the study’s small sample size, the findings revealed that there is a need for scaffolding to support future developments, advancements, and maintenance of mental health support in women’s rugby. Practical implications of future findings from a larger-scale study may lead to policy reformation across the game to inform and improve systemic mental health support for women rugby players.

Evolution of the physical characteristics of the French women's rugby players: A 10-year longitudinal analysis by position and team.

The study aimed to interpret the evolution of the physical performance of rugby sevens and rugby union French international players from 2009 to 2020. 631 players from the French national teams were divided into three groups: forwards, backs and sevens. The performances evaluated were anthropometric characteristics, strength tests (1 RM bench press and 1 RM pull-up), aerobic capacity (YoYo IR1 test) and speed tests (10 m, 20 m and 50 m). The best performance of each player over a two-year period was kept for the analysis. Fluctuations were observed across the decade. The anthropometric characteristics of female rugby sevens players tend to be taller and lighter than rugby union players. In rugby sevens, a moderate increase in maximal aerobic capacity was observed while sprint performances remained similar. Improvements in height and weight were observed over the last 10 years in rugby union players with a difference between the position. A moderate increase in sprinting performances and strength were observed both in backs and forwards. The overall improvement of strength and conditioning performances and anthropometrical evolution reflects the rugby environment characterized by the arrival of professional contracts and the structuration process of the clubs which allows a better quality of training and easier access to the infrastructures of the very high level.

"It's always the bare minimum" - A qualitative study of players' experiences of tackle coaching in women's rugby union.

Tackle coaching forms a cornerstone of training in rugby and is designed to enhance performance and mitigate tackle injury. The athlete voice can help key stakeholders understand the psychosocial determinants that shape skill development in relation to tackle coaching. We aimed to capture player experiences of tackle coaching in women's rugby union. Qualitative study using the grounded theory approach. Current women rugby union players, with at least 1-year senior level experience, were recruited from Europe, Africa and North America between December 2021 and March 2022 to participate in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed in line with grounded theory coding procedures. The 21 players were aged 20-48 years with a mean 10.6 years of rugby playing experience. Analysis revealed that the experiences of tackle coaching that shaped women's tackle skill development and sense of preparedness ranged from constraining to empowering, and gender was a pivotal influence in creating meaning. Participants expected and accepted the bare minimum in tackle coaching as the price that they had to pay for inclusion in rugby. Participants' experiences of tackle coaching were entangled in inequitable club structures and cultures where men's rugby is the norm. Empowering tackle coaching in women's rugby union must be bespoke to the given context and the needs of women players. The recommendations offered in this paper encourage discussion as to how best to empower women's tackle development in rugby.

Investigating the participation motives of women rugby union players in Canada and Wales

Investigating the participation motives of women rugby union players in Canada and Wales

Mental Health Literacy, Help-Seeking, and Mental Health Outcomes in Women Rugby Players

Within rugby, a plethora of research has focused on male rugby players, with some recent attention being directed to examining their mental health. Such attention has not been evident for their female rugby counterparts. The aims of this study were to ascertain levels of mental health literacy (MHL) and explore demographic differences in United Kingdom semielite rugby players who identified as women, and examine whether MHL is associated with better mental health outcomes and general help-seeking intentions. In total, 208 semielite women rugby players completed an online multisection questionnaire measuring MHL, general help-seeking intentions, distress, and well-being. Overall, most players scored a low rating of well-being; however, those who indicated a previous mental health problem exhibited significantly higher levels of MHL. Players were more likely to display general help-seeking intentions toward an intimate partner or a friend than a health care professional. High levels of distress were reported in 64.4% of players, particularly those who had been previously medically diagnosed with a mental disorder and bisexual rugby players. MHL was significantly, positively correlated with general help-seeking intentions, but not significantly correlated with distress or well-being. This study is the first to examine MHL in women rugby players and suggests that strategies devised by multidisciplinary teams of experts to help promote, engage, and offer tailored mental health support to women rugby players would be beneficial. Further investigations exploring the determinants of, and barriers to, MHL among women rugby players would be worthwhile to better understand and support players throughout their sporting career.

“I DO NOT THINK THE FEDERATION VALUES WOMEN AS MUCH AS MEN": GENDER CONTEXT OF WOMEN’S RUGBY IN TURKEY

The study aims to examine how the gender context is materialized at the national teams and federation level based on the experiences of elite Turkish female rugby players. The ethnographic research method was based on observation diaries and semistructured interviews with 18 elite women rugby players who were invited to the Turkish National Women's 7s Rugby Team. The findings indicated a main theme and two sub-theme as “Conditions that need to be changed” and “Conditions that need to be maintained”. The first sub-theme consisted of obstacles caused by the under-representation and gender issues level, while the second indicates the importance of women staff in women's national teams and respect for private life choices. Playing rugby in Turkey is built on the gender roles determined by the society, reflected in the federations that are the main authority of sports environments. These reflections are reconstructed by the federation and transform into various practices that are reflected again in sports environments.

Differences in physical performance between Olympic and non-Olympic female rugby sevens players.

This study compared the physical performance of National female rugby sevens players selected or not selected to form the Brazilian National Olympic team. Thirty women rugby sevens players from the Brazilian National team (15 Olympic and 15 non-Olympic athletes) participated in this study. Tests were performed on consecutive days, in the following order: day 1) standing long jump (SLJ); squat and countermovement jumps (SJ and CMJ); and one-repetition maximum test in the bench-press, prone-row, and parallel squat exercises; day 2) 40-m linear sprint; Pro-agility and L-drill change of direction tests; and Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (IR1). The differences between groups in all variables examined were analyzed using the independent t test and effect sizes (ES). Greater jump performances were noticed for the Olympic players in all jump tests compared to the non-Olympics (ES=0.95, ES=1.05, and ES=0.93, for SLJ, SJ, and CMJ, respectively; P<0.05). Olympics revealed shorter sprint times than non-Olympics in 40-m distance (ES=0.88; P<0.05). Higher one-repetition maximum in the bench-press and Yo-Yo IR1 distance were also observed for the Olympics in comparison to non-Olympic players (ES=0.65 and 0.93, respectively; P<0.05). Lower-body power, upper-body strength, maximal sprint velocity and aerobic fitness were found to be important for distinguishing between Olympic and non-Olympic female rugby sevens players. Coaches and practitioners should prioritize the development of these physical qualities in these team-sport athletes.

Baseline SCAT Performance in Men and Women: Comparison of Baseline Concussion Screens Between 6288 Elite Men's and 764 Women's Rugby Players.

This study compared Sports Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) performance in elite male (6288 players) and female (764 players) rugby players, to determine whether reference limits used for the management and diagnosis of concussion should differ between sexes. Cross-sectional census sample. Data from World Rugby's Head Injury Assessment management system were analyzed. This data set covers global professional rugby. All professional players who underwent baseline SCAT testing as part of World Rugby's concussion management requirement formed the study cohort. Ten thousand seven hundred fifty-four SCAT assessments from 6288 elite male rugby players and 1071 assessments from 764 elite female players were analyzed. Elite men and women rugby players are independent variables. Sports Concussion Assessment Tool performance, including symptoms endorsed, cognitive submode performance, and balance performance. Women endorsed significantly more symptoms, with greater symptom severity, than men (relative ratio 1.34, 95% confidence interval, 1.25-1.45 women vs men). Women outperformed men in cognitive submodes with the exception of immediate memory and delayed recall and made fewer balance errors than men during the modified Balance Error Scoring System. Clinical reference limits, defined as submode score achieved by the worst-performing 50% of the cohort, did not differ between men and women. Women and men perform differently during SCAT baseline testing, although differences are small and do not affect either the baseline or clinical reference limits that identify abnormal test results for most submodes. The greater endorsement of symptoms by women suggests increased risk of adverse concussion outcomes and highlights the importance of accurate evaluation of any symptom endorsement at baseline.

‘Representing’ the voices of Fijian women rugby players: Working with power differentials in transformative research

The politics of research practice has been discussed extensively in ethnographic and methodological literature, and increasingly in sport research literature. In this article we intend to contribute to the growing body of transformative research in the sociology of sport with reflections on our experience as dominant group researchers in a post-colonial, sub-cultural sporting environment; women’s rugby union in Fiji. We first examine the dilemmas and uncertainties engendered by our gendered/sexual positionalities and how we have sought to negotiate them. We also place our research in the context of Pacific islanders’ continuous effort for knowledge decolonisation and examine the ways in which our research replicates colonial silencing of local voices, however inadvertently. Finally, we explore the broader transformative potentials researchers may contribute to by situating their work as a collective and dialogic project within and beyond academic exercises, between researchers, athletes and others.

The multifaceted nature of participation motivation in elite Canadian women rugby union players

This study examined the nature of participation motivation for starting and continuing to play rugby among elite Canadian women rugby union players. A snowball technique was used to generate a sample of 10 international elite-level Canadian women rugby players who took part in open-ended, semi-structured interviews. An inductive thematic qualitative approach was used in the data analysis and reversal theory was used in the interpretation of interview data. The qualitative research methods provided detailed information about participation motivation. Players’ rugby experiences were generally positive. Four major participation motivation themes comprised of seven sub-themes were identified. These were: Getting started with rugby; Physical aspects (physicality and aggression; physical challenge); Achievement and success (learning a new sport; sport suitable for my body type); and On- and off-field player interaction (teammates/team environment; friendship and rugby community; being non-conformist).

High Match Load's Relation to Decreased Well-Being During an Elite Women's Rugby Sevens Tournament.

To determine changes in well-being, recovery, and neuromuscular performance during and after an elite women's rugby sevens tournament and assess the influence of match-load indicators. Twelve elite women rugby sevens players (age = 25.3 [4.1]y, height = 169.0 [4.0]cm, weight = 63.9 [4.9]kg, and body fat = 18.6% [2.7%]) performed 5 matches during a 2-d tournament of the Women's Rugby Sevens World Series. Perceived well-being (fatigue, sleep quality, general muscle soreness, stress levels, and mood), total quality of recovery, and countermovement-jump flight time were measured on match days 1 and 2, 1 d posttournament, and 2 d posttournament. Total distance; low-, moderate-, and high-intensity running; and physical contacts during matches were derived from global positioning system-based time-motion analysis and video-based notational analysis, respectively. Internal match load was calculated by session rating of perceived exertion and playing time (rating of perceived exertion × duration). Well-being (P < .001), fatigue (P < .001), general muscle soreness (P < .001), stress levels (P < .001), mood (P = .005), and total quality of recovery (P < .001) were significantly impaired after match day 1 and did not return to baseline values until 2 d posttournament. More high-intensity running was related to more fatigue (r = -.60, P = .049) and a larger number of physical contacts with more general muscle soreness (r = -.69, P = .013). Perceived well-being and total quality of recovery were already impaired after match day 1, although performance was maintained. High-intensity running and physical contacts were predominantly related to fatigue and general muscle soreness, respectively.

Comparison of Anthropometric Characteristics, Body Composition Profile and Physical Fitness Parameters of Indian National Women Rugby Players According to Their Specific Playing Position

BackgroundScientific researches available on anthropometric and physiological characteristics of female rugby players in India are very scanty.ObjectivesThe present study was aimed to evaluate and compared different anthropometric, body composition and physical fitness parameters and also to investigate whether any distinctive characteristics exist among above variables according to their specific playing position.MethodsTwenty five Indian national women rugby players (forward, n = 12, mean age = 20.9 ± 3.30 and back, n = 13, mean age = 19.7 ± 2.48) of pre-competitive phase were chosen as subject from the national coaching camp. They were evaluated for various anthropometric, body composition parameters, hemoglobin, blood glucose level and physical fitness profile by following standard procedure.ResultsForward players had significantly higher body weight, BMI, fat percentage, sum of skinfold, total body potassium, total body calcium and glycogen content as compared to the back. Whereas, players of back position had significantly higher relative muscle mass (MM/Wt.), relative body cell mass (BCM/Wt.), agility, standing broad jump, VO2max and relative peak anaerobic power than their forward counterparts. Linear regression model identified agility (β = 0.59) and sum of skinfold (β = -0.45) as significant predictor of peak anaerobic power (adjusted R2 = 0.61) of these players.ConclusionsPresent study indicated the players of back position were faster, more agile and aerobically fit with having lower body weight and fat percent as compared to their forward counterparts. Whereas, principal component analysis identified BMI, sum of skinfold and agility as the main confounding variables to categorize the present rugby players between forward and back positional groups.

Comparison of Anthropometric Characteristics, Body Composition Profile and Physical Fitness Parameters of Indian National Women Rugby Players According to Their Specific Playing Position

Background: Scientific researches available on anthropometric and physiological characteristics of female rugby players in India are very scanty. Objectives: The present study was aimed to evaluate and compared different anthropometric, body composition and physical fitness parameters and also to investigate whether any distinctive characteristics exist among above variables according to their specific playing position. Methods: Twenty five Indian national women rugby players (forward, n = 12, mean age = 20.9 ± 3.30 and back, n = 13, mean age = 19.7 ± 2.48) of pre-competitive phase were chosen as subject from the national coaching camp. They were evaluated for various anthropometric, body composition parameters, hemoglobin, blood glucose level and physical fitness profile by following standard procedure. Results: Forward players had significantly higher body weight, BMI, fat percentage, sum of skinfold, total body potassium, total body calcium and glycogen content as compared to the back. Whereas, players of back position had significantly higher relative muscle mass (MM/Wt.), relative body cell mass (BCM/Wt.), agility, standing broad jump, VO2max and relative peak anaerobic power than their forward counterparts. Linear regression model identified agility (β = 0.59) and sum of skinfold (β = -0.45) as significant predictor of peak anaerobic power (adjusted R2 = 0.61) of these players. Conclusions: Present study indicated the players of back position were faster, more agile and aerobically fit with having lower body weight and fat percent as compared to their forward counterparts. Whereas, principal component analysis identified BMI, sum of skinfold and agility as the main confounding variables to categorize the present rugby players between forward and back positional groups.