Today, the NRL officially launches Women in League Round. This week is an opportunity for us as a game to celebrate the participation, commitment and role that women play at all levels of the rugby league family.
Women in League Round is an opportunity to celebrate, and worth getting excited about, but it can be incredibly divisive.
I’ve heard all the reasons as to why we shouldn’t celebrate Women in League Round. Today, I thought I would share some of those reasons with you and explain why I don’t think they are relevant.
Women in League is about mums
Whenever I hear someone say this, I immediately channel Phil Gould and in his voice say, “No, no, no, no, no.”
I will admit that when the round first launched ten years ago, it did very much feel a chance to celebrate women at a grassroots level – the mum who washes the team socks after a game, the mum who worked in the canteen, and the mum who would wake up early on a Saturday morning to take her son to his game.
These women are crucial to our game and worth celebrating, but Women in League Round has evolved into so much more than this and has become even more inclusive.
Increasingly, the round has become a celebration of women at all levels of the game, and now we have so many more to celebrate.
Think of examples like Marina Go, chairperson at the Wests Tigers, Cathy Harris, who sits on the Australian Rugby League Commission, Raelene Castle as CEO of the Canterbury Bulldogs, Yvonne Sampson at Channel Nine, Ruan Sims who is captain of our Jillaroos, Anita Hagarty who sits on the board of Touch Football Australia, and Kasey Badger, NRL referee.
Women are involved in any aspect of the game that they choose. This is worth celebrating.
Rugby league has demonstrated that its players have problems with attitudes towards women
This one makes me angry, because it labels rugby league as the code with the problem. The reality is – as we have seen on countless occasions this year – issues of sexism and gender are prevalent in all our major sporting codes.
Our sports reflect the society in which we live, and unfortunately as long as issues of sexism and gender inequality exist, they will continue to be reflected in our sports.
Does this mean it’s okay? Certainly not. But instead of labelling rugby league, let’s focus on what rugby league is doing with its very big voice in this space.
A good example is the tremendous amount of work the NRL does in the community, in particular through the Voice Against Violence program, led by NRL ambassadors like Alan Tongue, or the training delivered to our players in conjunction with the Full Stop Foundation about respectful relationships.
Refusing to celebrate the role of women in our game because of the actions of the few absolutely undermines the behaviour, energy and talent associated with the many.
It’s condescending
This reason confuses me.
Any opportunity our game gives us to celebrate a group who contribute so much to the game should be embraced.
There are always arguments put forward that by having a round to celebrate women, we remind them that they are not equals in our game.
The reality is, that while women are treated as equals in the game and are welcome, we still have a long way to go before female representation in the game is closer to 50 per cent.
Instead of shying away from this fact, let’s celebrate how far we have come and be even more driven to achieve gender parity in the game in the future.
Moves are already underway, with my favourite example being the strides made in the women’s game. With the announcement that the Cronulla Sharks will have a women’s nines side next year (stacked with Jillaroos like Ruan Sims, Maddie Studdon and Allana Ferguson) and the murmurs continuing to grow about an NRL women’s competition in the future, this space is certainly one to watch.
It won’t get more women to like the NRL
Well, with an attitude like that, of course not.
People are always surprised when I name all the talented women I know who are involved in the game, and the levels at which they are involved.
By having a round where we celebrate women and the positions they hold in the game, we make them visible – and this is important.
When I hear little girls saying things like, “When I grow up, I want to be Ruan Sims”, I know that we are making headway.
This round tells little girls that being involved in rugby league is not a dream anymore, it can be their reality.
Whether the round is tokenistic, patronising or simply ‘too pink’, women in our game are worth celebrating.
My hope is that in ten years, women are so common within the game that there won’t need to be a Women in League Round.
But until then, let’s celebrate the women involved in our game, because without them there wouldn’t be rugby league.
This is @mary__kaye from @ladieswholeague
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
I loved this response - thanks Crosscoder!
Onside
Guest
Thanks Mary. It doesn't 'just happen'.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Mary .Well thought out article. In fact female participation in rugby league is the fastest growing area of the game. According to stats 180,000 girls and women play rugby league across Australia.Of course that would include club/schools. 302,400 girls and women play touch football nationally.That's nearly 500,000 in toto for tag/touch and contact. Additionally there are 90 plus female only rl comps nationally. The NRL clubs have currently 68,000 female members.This all in the space of less than 10 years.Bearing in mind the NRL does not have clubs in WA or SA. David Smith was laughed at when he stated ,he was aiming for 1m males and females playing various forms of the code as part of the SP. The appearance of the Jillaroos and the Kiwi Ferns in matches has further heightened the recognition and promotion of the code. The Cronulla Sharks have been very pro active in the area of female participation. My elder daughter played touch years ago, well before the inclusion of that aspect into the NRL family.She absolutely loved it. I can see 10 years down the line at the latest a national womens' comp,be it 9s or the real McCoy.The gl;ass ceiling will not only have been broken,but shattered.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Actually, I think it is more to do with female athletes who in most cases aren't professional and, as a result are more rounded. Obviously that is a generalisation, but I think that's part of the reason.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Not at all Onside. I actually don't think that's the case. I really do believe we are an open and inclusive sport and the increased presence of women is simply more about them becoming visible. As I have said above, women in rugby league have been involved for many years. My hope is that in the future it becomes the norm and not the exception. I use broadcast as the example because that is one of my favourites. On the weekend it was announced that Jess Yates from Fox Sports would be doing sideline commentary and not a stir was made. When Rebecca Maddern was appointed to the AFL Footy Show many stomped their feet and complained.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
There's some reason for that, specifically that at 34 Ruan would have to be pretty close to winding up in the sport as a player and is presumably eyeing off some kind of media position which does tend to cause players to work on their enunciation and presentation.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
I find that's the case with most female athletes!
Onside
Guest
Mary, Is Rugby League doing more in some areas because (the perception at least is that) the code both has and had more problems, and therefore starts from a different base. Please do not read this as a smart Alec response.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Onside, I have to be honest. I think rugby league is doing more than any other code, except for in terms of participation where we have a lot of work to do (and we are working on it). We're not quite at the point of a WBBL or our own women's league but I see us leading the way in terms of governance and ESPECIALLY in commentary.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Hardcore Prawn, I am completely comfortable with the makeover/champagne type thing as long as it's part of a wider strategy by clubs to recognise that not all women enjoy that type of stuff. The Swans have a 'Ladies at Sydney Swans' group which hosts a number of events through the year including a big lunch, a yum cha, a skills session where the women get to play and a champagne night. That attempts to cover the field and recognise that women want so much more than be-dazzled merchandise. I'm sorry you had such a rubbish experience - but unfortunately that view does represent the view of some in our society still!
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
There is a push for that to happen next year Mitchell!
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Womblat, I absolutely agree that this is not a new concept and that women have been welcome and present in rugby league for a long time. I think the conversation around Women in League round is about ensuring visibility and spreading the message further than just rugby league that our game is an open and inclusive one.
Onside
Guest
Is it likely to get more women to actually care about league either one way or the other. What has happened in other codes ?. I notice AFL launching a women's league and at the same time in part, high jacking professional netball. The AFL will probably try to get champion netballers to play Aussie rules. Why not ? It would be a great marketing opportunity backed by big money. I suppose soccer is in a different position because not only is it an Olympic sport, but it also has a genuine World Cup. That said,despite the game being truly international ,and played throughout every state in the country, it struggles financially. But that's Australia. Two successful international sports would love the cash injection, basketball and hockey . Women in League ?. It's all good,.It's all sport . Rugby League is just one of them.
peeeko
Guest
I watched Ruan Sims interviewed the other day on the footy show. Spoke so much better than male players, presented really well.
Bill Blazejowski
Roar Rookie
I enjoyed the recent women's matches with Australia and New Zealand and was sad that I missed the NSW v Queensland encounter. Very impressed with the energy and passion on the field, the skills and hard tackling. Channel Nine need to get on board with better/more coverage.
Patrick Effeney
Editor
The women's Test match earlier this year was much more entertaining than the game that preceded it (on television, not in the true scale of time). That's been about my only exposure to women's footy to date, but if it's anything like that I can get into it. Some great speed, toughness and skill on show.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
I Agree with more of the Womens game on TV. I really enjoy it but then i use to coach the local womens rugby team so i may be biased. As for the attitudes toward the womens game i think you will always find a few lads being lads type of behaviour but i also always found the Mens team to be really good with the women when we use to have training games against them and even with supporting them on game days. I do think though that the more games that can be put on TV the better for the involvement of more women and junior girls as well as changing the attitude towards the womens game and participation in the sport in general.
Surely
Guest
Loved the women's test match and state of origin. Will look forward to the next ones.
Mitchell Goldfinch
Roar Rookie
wow!!! good insight
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
The ARU held their Women's Round a few months ago, and my local Super Rugby team, the Melbourne Rebels, were pretty poor in organising it. I hope the NRL does better. Before their match against the Brumbies the Rebels had a marquee outside Aami Park offering makeovers and manicures, which seemed rather condescending and not really in keeping with the spirit of the round; but it was during half-time, when the Rebels staged a Sevens match between two of Melbourne's women's rugby teams, that it all went horribly wrong: The match itself was pretty good, a fast-moving game with a couple of decent tries scored, and most of the crowd enjoyed it. However, while this game was going on one of the pitchside interviewers spoke to a bloke in the crowd; and this was broadcast over Aami Park's big screens. "What do you think of the women's Sevens?" asked the presenter. "Well" belched the spectator, between mouthfuls of beer, "I'll watch it, because it's rugby. But I won't enjoy it, because it's women." Cue back-slapping from his mates, and a sheepish grin to the camera from our host as the screens quickly went to something else (an ad probably). There was some booing from sections of the crowd, but there was no apology from the presenter, no come-back interview with a supportive fan, and nothing said about it on social media or through the Rebels usual marketing channels. It all seemed a little surreal, as I've never seen this kind of critique of half-time entertainment before at Aami, and certainly couldn't imagine anyone getting away with saying something similar about the kids' teams that usually play at half-time. It made me wonder why the Rebels admin did it, and how they managed to find such a dinosaur in the crowd.