On the brink of the 10th Women's World Cup in England, World Rugby's head honcho Alan Gilpin is heralding it as a game-changer, not just for women's rugby but potentially reshaping the men's game too. Gilpin stakes high hopes on the event, suggesting that a victory for the home team could revolutionize women's rugby globally, much like the Lionesses' recent success in Euro 25 has done for women's football in England.
Gilpin highlighted the unique impact of women's rugby, saying, "At a time when the men’s game is brilliant on the field, the women’s game is showing a different face of rugby that is engaging non-avid fans in a slightly different way." This new engagement, he notes, isn't just boosting women's rugby but is spilling over, attracting more viewers to the men's games as well.
The face of the sport, Ilona Maher, is at the forefront of this transformative movement. With a massive following on social media, Maher and her peers are redefining athlete interaction. Their posts promote body positivity and inclusivity, resonating widely. At the ESPY awards, Maher stated, "Strong is beautiful, strong is powerful. It’s sexy, it’s whatever you want it to be. I hope more girls can feel how I feel."
According to Gilpin, this authenticity might even encourage male players to express themselves more openly. "
'I think, and I’m optimistic about this, that will start to give permission to the men’s game to be more authentic.'
" he noted, suggesting a potential cultural shift towards greater individualism within the sport.
The surge in popularity for women's rugby is evident in ticket sales, with 375,000 sold for this World Cup—threefold the number from the last tournament in New Zealand. The opening match in Sunderland and the final at Twickenham are both sell-outs, indicating a massive upswing in interest and support.
Gilpin is not the only one to notice the unique contributions of women in rugby. England coach Steve Borthwick previously emphasized the necessity for rugby to embrace and promote its stars to compete with other sports, asserting, "
'We need superstars in the game. I happen to think you can be a superstar and a team player. I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive.'
"
As the Women's World Cup unfolds, the impact on rugby, both women's and men's, will be closely watched by fans and officials alike, with the hope of igniting a broader passion and engagement with the sport.
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On the brink of the 10th Women's World Cup in England, World Rugby's head honcho Alan Gilpin is heralding it as a game-changer, not just for women's rugby but potentially reshaping the men's game too. Gilpin stakes high hopes on the event, suggesting that a victory for the home team could revolutionize women's rugby globally, much like the Lionesses' recent success in Euro 25 has done for women's football in England.
Gilpin highlighted the unique impact of women's rugby, saying, "At a time when the men’s game is brilliant on the field, the women’s game is showing a different face of rugby that is engaging non-avid fans in a slightly different way." This new engagement, he notes, isn't just boosting women's rugby but is spilling over, attracting more viewers to the men's games as well.
The face of the sport, Ilona Maher, is at the forefront of this transformative movement. With a massive following on social media, Maher and her peers are redefining athlete interaction. Their posts promote body positivity and inclusivity, resonating widely. At the ESPY awards, Maher stated, "Strong is beautiful, strong is powerful. It’s sexy, it’s whatever you want it to be. I hope more girls can feel how I feel."
According to Gilpin, this authenticity might even encourage male players to express themselves more openly. "
'I think, and I’m optimistic about this, that will start to give permission to the men’s game to be more authentic.'
" he noted, suggesting a potential cultural shift towards greater individualism within the sport.The surge in popularity for women's rugby is evident in ticket sales, with 375,000 sold for this World Cup—threefold the number from the last tournament in New Zealand. The opening match in Sunderland and the final at Twickenham are both sell-outs, indicating a massive upswing in interest and support.
Gilpin is not the only one to notice the unique contributions of women in rugby. England coach Steve Borthwick previously emphasized the necessity for rugby to embrace and promote its stars to compete with other sports, asserting, "
'We need superstars in the game. I happen to think you can be a superstar and a team player. I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive.'
"As the Women's World Cup unfolds, the impact on rugby, both women's and men's, will be closely watched by fans and officials alike, with the hope of igniting a broader passion and engagement with the sport.