ARU needs to develop women’s rugby
Roar Guru
By rugbyfuture, 1 Feb 2010 rugbyfuture is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- ARU, Rugby Union, women's rugby
All the expansion going on throughout the various codes of football is detested by some and held as hope by others. These are all very risky endeavors, with usually close competitions trying to protect their kingdoms and attack each others.
But there is one expansion route that the football codes still aren’t taking seriously enough – and it’s paved with gold.
That is the women’s game.
Football has done quite well at promoting the game to the fairer sex, but that is mostly on the basis of traditional offerings. However, Rugby League and Rugby have failed to capitalise on a fairly captive market. I see a market here, above anything else, for Rugby Sevens to take hold of.
Certainly the fast-paced action, quick games and lesser physicality would appeal to some young women out there, and could be pushed in schools.
A gateway into schools may be into the private system, but it can go way beyond that. There is already a good development stream for the women’s game, with our national team being world champions. But think what that team, in the future, could achieve with a greater width of talent playing at school age levels. This would in fact push for greater coverage of the women’s game in Australia.
Some direct gateways could be for school girls who play water polo in the summer. The physical level of each game is similar, and the muscles trained would correspond, as well as the fitness levels. This may sound far-fetched but water polo is in fact water rugby, originating from the game in its early development.
So, there is room for development here, and the targeting of woman is the next step for rugby with only 1,660 female players registered, according to statistics.
This is where the ARU should take a chance, especially with the momentum of the Olympic movement.
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- Explore:
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Sam D said | February 1st 2010 @ 4:58am | Report comment
Women’s rugby is dangerous. It peaked in the 90′s and has fallen away since. Way too many injuries. Good in theory but very difficult in practice.
Froar said | February 1st 2010 @ 5:25am | Report comment
Complete rubbish Sam. It is booming in Europe, particularly in England. Some women in the UK are borderline semi-professional. Having seen the European Championship in 2008 I can tell you some of the women are extremely impressive and it isn’t bad to watch either. The problem here is that they received so little support from the ARU.
Sam D said | February 1st 2010 @ 8:05pm | Report comment
I’m glad women’s rugby is booming in Europe Froar, maybe it’s taken some time to catch on – similar to the ELV’s maybe??
How do UK and European rugby players receive support from the ARU? Why should the ARU support an absolute minority when there is going to be very little return for their input?
I think women can play rugby and I’ve seen some handy players (Git’s sister). The majority of women i’ve seen playing the game get hurt due to poor contact skills (particularly head placement in the tackle) Furthermore, there doesn’t seem to be many women interested in playing the game regularly.
Ever been involved in women’s rugby Froar?
rugbyfuture said | February 1st 2010 @ 10:42pm | Report comment
but at the same time attracting junior women and promoting the game would help build the numbers and generate good contact skills.
youqar said | February 2nd 2010 @ 6:42am | Report comment
Yes. I have lived in the UK for quite a number of years and many clubs run a ladies side. It is also gaining popularity at universities for women. I have coached a number of womens sides. Once taught the right technique they are fine and fantastic to coach. The only thing the seem to get worse than the men is bruises which can be pretty nasty but other than that I don’t believe they get injured any more than the men.
youqar said | February 2nd 2010 @ 6:43am | Report comment
oohhh responded to a post I thought was for me.
Gatto Nero said | February 1st 2010 @ 10:03am | Report comment
It’s pretty big here in Canada.
Bay35Pablo said | February 1st 2010 @ 8:08am | Report comment
RF, while I agree in principle, the participation numbers in the 2008 ARU Report are minute. Women simply aren’t interested in rugby.
Rugby has shot itself in the foot by not having a touch or tag version, and has essentially abandoned this to league’s version. This would be aghreat way to get women playing at least a non-contact version of rugby. There are plenty of women that play touch/tag.
Additonally, sevens should be used as the main version of rugby to attract women. This avoids the scrums and heavy gang tackles that will put many women off rugby, but still have the contact compnent to the extent they want it.
To be brutal, rugby has enough other problems and areas needing resources that women’s rugby has and will continue to be well down the list.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | February 1st 2010 @ 8:27am | Report comment
Bay35Pablo – Based on what I have seen I think you have nailed it.
Recently I visited Mullumbimby (NSW Far North Coast) and got to see the local Rugby League’s efforts in developing tag footy. There were loads of women playing & enjoying themselves in mid week practice. It had a really good feel to it & just seemed like such a common sense way for Rugby to go. Offer women touch or tag, they like the involvement & in turn encourage their kids to play or perhaps have a shot at the 15 man game.
Seems an opportunity lost by the ARU to me.
rugbyfuture said | February 1st 2010 @ 9:15am | Report comment
i think there is more of an interest in the contact game (sevens), my sister was big on rugby. and as i said, waterpolo players is a good way to go considering the similar amount of contact and players and fitness levels, it would be a perfect off season game. the problem is it hasn’t targeted the system so theres no appeal because of no availability, if it was openly made available with a push to the waterpolo players, it would do well. especially pushing the private schools.
Norm said | February 1st 2010 @ 4:57pm | Report comment
-”especially pushing the private schools”…there you go again.
rugbyfuture said | February 1st 2010 @ 10:45pm | Report comment
whats wrong with pushing the strongest point of our game? (im sure league does the same thing)
JL said | February 5th 2010 @ 5:32pm | Report comment
I have a 22 year old daughter who represented NSW schools in rugby and Australia in water polo. Loved both but rugby had to give way when she concentrated on her water polo career. Women’s rugby is already in place in the state schools system.
Sam D said | February 1st 2010 @ 8:07pm | Report comment
Agree Bay, Leaguetag gets massive support within our local group competition here, popular with schools and women.
Bruce Ross said | February 1st 2010 @ 8:53am | Report comment
I am surprised by comments of “Way too many injuries” and “Women simply aren’t interested in rugby”.
I am not aware of major injury problems over the years in the Sydney women’s rugby competition. I also know that there are a significant number of women who are attracted to sports and activities which require courage and a high degree of physicality.
The basic problem as I see it is that rugby is a very technical game where players need coaching to develop the basic knowledge and skills. Men’s clubs, including my own, have not been genuinely and practically supportive of women’s teams.
The women rugby players that I know play the game precisely because of its physicality. They would not be attracted to a “a non-contact version of rugby.” I also don’t believe that they are put off by “scrums and heavy gang tackles .” At this stage the forces involved in these engagements are very much less than in men’s rugby, although that may gradually change as the sport develops now that the sillybugger version has been admitted into the Olympics.
I don’t see the ARU or any of the rugby bureaucracies as being the way forward. All they would do if a government or someone else provided the money would be to employ a few more seat warmers.
All that women’s rugby really needs is practical encouragement from just a few of the hordes of males who have a good technical knowledge of the game. Teams can be operated on an absolute shoestring budget.
Bay35Pablo said | February 1st 2010 @ 11:39am | Report comment
Bruce, the common belief is that many mums prevent their boys playing rugby because of the fear of tackles and injury. Thus the push into AFL and football, which as seen as less risky.
If that’s the case, how likely are women to play themselves or put their girls into rugby?
I for one wouldn’t look forward to any daughter of mine playing XV rugby, but touch or sevens I could handle.
Bruce Ross said | February 1st 2010 @ 11:49am | Report comment
The reality, Bay, is that at this stage most of those who get involved in women’s rugby have outgrown the stage where they would seek their mum’s approval on anything – or even as in your case their father’s. As the game develops parental perceptions may become more of a factor.
Bay35Pablo said | February 2nd 2010 @ 1:00pm | Report comment
Bruce, you are missing my point. Females as a rule don’t tend to be big fans of physical contact sports. A female fan jumping up and down cheering at the boxing or league at a big hit is generally seen as a fruit loop not standard.
AndyS said | February 2nd 2010 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
Not sure I’d agree with that, as many of the most enthusiastic fans of contact sports I’ve ever met have been female. I’d certainly agree wrt participation, but not support. On occassion I have even wondered whether the two go together, with the enthusiasm for the big hits directly linked to a lack of understanding/empathy for what it would have felt like.
ballboy said | February 1st 2010 @ 10:39am | Report comment
Totally agree Bruce.
I was heavily involved in Women’s rugby in the early 90′s when it was finding its legs, both as a coach and as a manager. The women wanted to play the 15 a side – finally they had a game that was suitable for all shapes and sizes. The forward battles where rough and tough, the backs ran like the wind so as not be caught by the pack. There was very little kicking in the game because it’s a hard skill to learn later in life so the ball was in the hand for long phases. Basically, it was great to watch and the women loved it.
In the past 17 years the development of the women’s game has been gradual. I must admit I’m not completely up to speed with where it is at now but there were school’s comps in the late 90′s and I’m sure there would be a lot of school girls who would be itching to get involved.
Support from older brothers, Dad’s, sports coaches is the place to get the younger girls involved. Just as a few of is stood up and did it in the early 90′s for the love of the game, that’s what it needs now. Forget getting the ARU to throw heaps of weight behind it. They’ll support it in theory, but it needs a push from the grassroots. Some Sydney clubs are very strong in their support. If more schools embraced it and there was an organised comp it could be a great way to feed the more established clubs.
Travis said | February 1st 2010 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Rugby Future says “But there is one expansion route that the football codes still aren’t taking seriously enough – and it’s paved with gold.”
Please explain? What women’s sport works as a professional sport? Ok, tennis. Netball. Then what? I’m not going to watch women’s sport. It’s boring.
AFL wants to turn itself into a female friendly sport, but even that won’t lead to women playing the game in a manner that leads to it making money.
Tag football is great, but it isn’t going to make the NRL money.
Sam said | February 1st 2010 @ 1:06pm | Report comment
I think womens sport – especially team sports – get treated pretty badly by the Australian media. The media coverage of the netball in NZ compared to Australia is quite interesting. Probably doesn’t help that there are so many football codes in Australia, drowns out the other sports a little bit, and womens sport suffers a lot (except maybe the tennis and swimming).
I certainly don’t think it is paved in gold, I too would be interested to know how rugbyfuture expects much money to be generated from womens rugby (or league, or AFL for that matter). However as an amateur sport it has a big carrot with the womens inclusion in the Olympics rugby 7′s, and the fact that the game is supported by the IRB relatively well (although not as well as FIFA support womens soccer) means representative honours exist. The Womens Rugby World Cup is this year, and should be quite interesting. On a more negative note, the NZRU announced that they would not be having a womens Provincial Competition in NZ this year for the first time in quite a while. A real shame , but i suppose that is the financial reality of amateur sport at the moment – money gets funneled into the professional games.
rugbyfuture said | February 1st 2010 @ 10:48pm | Report comment
i never specifically pointed out initial proffesionalism, but at development of the game at grassroots. but if that does succedd then it can follow in the way of tennis, netball, swimming, hockey and waterpolo.
Travis said | February 2nd 2010 @ 4:46pm | Report comment
“i never specifically pointed out initial proffesionalism” – Well how else is a reader meant to take “But there is one expansion route that the football codes still aren’t taking seriously enough – and it’s paved with gold.”? Seriously RF -this happens too often with your stories and posts. You say one thing, but apparently mean something else.
rugbyfuture said | February 2nd 2010 @ 8:48pm | Report comment
as has been said by other people before, it seems most understand and only some can’t understand things which arent literal, its a writing technique. a measure of a games profitability can be achieved through the development of the grassroots as has been proven by the AFL and ARL, if they managed to capture the female market, then in turn the amount of people that support the game would go up and become a more profitable code. as people say about rugby union, the top down method doesnt work, yet the afl is going into western sydney with that approach, the NRL went into melbourne with that approach, so in theory (economics) you could capture more people playing then you could equally get more support which equals more money. stop trying to justify idiotic and attacking statements by saying you didn’t get it and nobody else would, thats just showing an inferiority complex.
rugbygirl said | February 1st 2010 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
I am glad to see some discussion on women’s rugby. I play for a club in sydney. I began to play the game at university and this is a very common starting place for a lot of female players. I completely agree with Ballboy and Bruce, women are attracted to the sport as it is a game for females of all sizes and also a very social sport. I have some experience in a developing role with schoolgirls rugby in Ireland and I must say that the 12-15 year old girls did not want to play tagrugby, infact their most common request was “when are we going to get to tackle?”
Personally, coming from a background of judo the physicality of the game was infact something that attracted me to it. That aside, I have played for a number of teams in Australia and Ireland over the past 6 years and all the girls I know that play or have played rugby in the past far prefer it to any of the non-contact games of touch or oztag.
I don’t know any rugby players that have left the game to play a less physical game such as touch or oztag as an alternative, however I know many previous touch players who have now taken to rugby and love the physicality of it!
Like Bruce said, I believe the game needs support at a basic club level and from there, development in schools, local to the clubs can take place. A number of teams in the sydney competition have folded in the past 5 years and it is such a shame as I have no doubt they would still exist had their been some more support for them! All the men I know that have coached women’s rugby have been initally surprised at the talent level and have found it very rewarding to coach and be involved with.
Mike G said | February 1st 2010 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
Thanks for the input RG, it’s great to have someone who is actually living the topic post a comment. It’s hard for us males to talk about this topic without sounding patronising, but I too have heard many woman rah rahs talk about tag rugby in a negative sense. I think the whole idea of us seeming to know what woman rugby players want (without actually asking), a little diffiacult to accept. Perhaps there’s an idea for Mel Gibson to write a sequal to What woman want??? Just a thought
Harry Kimble said | February 1st 2010 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
The women’s team at the club I follow folded five years ago. The number of players began to dwindle and the club did not have the financial capacity to support the woen. it was a pity but that is life.
Last season whilst attending a Shute Shield game at Penrith, the Penrith women played the Parramatta women on an outer ground. The standard of play was very high and the Parramatta centre would be the envy of many a male club.
The Wallaroos won the World Sevens last year and some of the players were recruited from touch. Whether these women would want to play the 15 aside game is debatable. There is still a perception that the game is not ladylike and is a big part why it id not growing. The withdrawal of funds by the ARU was a disaster for the woen’s game.
There are lots of women who enjoy the physical side of the game and should be encouraged to play. We have women boxers and wrestlers so why not Rugby players.
Gary said | February 1st 2010 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
My Premier Grade Club in WA has a Women’s team that is a valuable part of our player group. The ladies are right into it, with the physicality a mjor part of it. It’s really great to watch. The women tend to be more technically correct than the men as they use technique to make up for lesser strength than their male counterparts.
I remember asking an 18 year old recruit why she took up Rugby, expecting an answer like being from a Rugby family, love the game whatever. What I didn’t expect was the answer I got: “because you get to run into people and smash them”.
Yes there are injuries but no more than in the men’s game. The team spirit if anything is higher than the men, female networking I guess. The ladies mke a great contribution to the club both on and off the field.
My advice to you all is that if you haven’t got a Women’s Team in your club get one! If you haven’t seen a Women’s game do your self a favout and do so.
Altona Rebel said | February 1st 2010 @ 4:12pm | Report comment
Make it compulsory for all Super rugby teams to have a Women’s 7s team. These teams can be semi professional and matches can be played before each Super rugby match. Do the same with the try nations
MV Dave said | February 1st 2010 @ 4:39pm | Report comment
“But there is one expansion route that the football codes still aren’t taking seriously enough – and it’s paved with gold.” What about Womens Football? Would have to be the fastest growing womens sport surely. There is a semi pro league in Oz – W League which is lightyears ahead of anything Rugby or AFL have. There are very significant numbers playing football in Oz and around the world. The last Womans WC in China ave 36,000 crowds for over 30 games. There are leagues in Europe and the US where the game has massive participation levels. Football is taking womans football very seriously perhaps Rugby and AFL aren’t.
formeropenside said | February 1st 2010 @ 4:56pm | Report comment
Of course, soccer is a women’s sport.
MV Dave said | February 1st 2010 @ 5:00pm | Report comment
and you’ve played exactly how many senior games? Too busy with your head up a mates ar$6 playing Ruggers l presume?
Joe FC said | February 1st 2010 @ 5:06pm | Report comment
That’s the best you can do?
MV Dave said | February 1st 2010 @ 5:14pm | Report comment
No doubt that there are plenty of decent Rugby folk but this guy formeropenside is a knuckledragger from the Neanderthal Age.
Froar said | February 1st 2010 @ 7:27pm | Report comment
Oh god. Here goes MV Dave again. Where is the conspiracy this time?
The W League is hardly taken seriously in Australia. Don’t even try to argue that it is. Considering the HAL crowd figures I can’t even imagine what the W League’s is like.
MV Dave said | February 2nd 2010 @ 6:04am | Report comment
WTF? Which part of my post are you questioning? The only conspiracy is planted in your head.
Before you post it probably helps to read what you are supposedly questioning and the context it is written…that help.
rugbyfuture said | February 1st 2010 @ 10:51pm | Report comment
i addressed that furthe rdown in the article, was more refferring to the other codes. sorry if i offended