The final of the IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup was witnessed by a sell-out crowd of over 13,000 people at Twickenham Stoop last month. Over 30,000 supporters attended the 30 matches of the tournament, which saw England Ladies battle their way through to the end, conceding only three tries in five matches and just missing out on the trophy with 10 points to New Zealand’s 13. Yet there are still many who question the status of women’s rugby; despite the clear root support for the sport, persistent destructive attitudes around the game remain.

Although women’s rugby may not display the physicality of the men’s game, it is still engaging in its own right. Female rugby players demonstrate high levels of skill, fitness and game sense; matches are clinical, disciplined and genuinely enjoyable to watch for the level of technique. Women must be seen as more than just poor versions of their male counterparts and instead be judged on their own merits. Female athletes train and compete with just as much dedication as men and make just as many sacrifices for their sport, though often for less recognition. For the game to continue progressing to a higher standard, women’s players must be recognised for the talent and commitment they display.

Last season Cambridge University Women’s Rugby Football Club took 15 of their 22 victories with no points on the board for the opposition, scoring as high as 92 points in one match. This would be an impressive statistic for any club but is even more so for Cambridge, competing against far more experienced players and universities that provide greater support to their sports teams. Somehow, though, achievements like these are often overlooked or seen as less remarkable because they come from a women’s club. The accomplishments of St John’s rugby in the college league are well-known across the university, but how many people know CUWRFC was placed fourth in the country in BUCS last year?

Men’s rugby has an advantage over the women’s game in being far more established. Whereas the Six Nations tournament for men began in the 1880’s, the women’s tournament did not begin until the mid 1990s. Having had over a century longer to develop, it is not surprising that at the present time men are able to play to a higher standard. Furthermore, the women’s game is not yet professional, so players are not at liberty to dedicate their time to the sport in the same way their professional male counterparts are.

At the university level, women’s rugby faces greater recruitment challenges due to the fact that very few girls have played before. There is not a group of players actively seeking a club and already possessing a solid base of skills. Competing to a high standard is, then, a bigger test given the pressure to bring girls who have never touched a rugby ball before up to a level where they can compete against women who have been playing for five or ten years or more in a club side league.
Perhaps one of the attitudes most detrimental to women’s rugby is the stereotypes surrounding players. Somewhere along the way, the idea has come about that all women’s rugby players are butch lesbians, fat and unattractive. As a full contact sport, rugby is ‘supposed’ to be for boys, thus the idea that girls who want to play must be masculine and aggressive. Based on the discussions that come about while trying to recruit at freshers’ fairs, it is clear that many women are put off by these stereotypes. The reality of the situation is that the pretty, petite blonde sat next to you on a swap is just as likely to be a rugby player as the girl in the powerlifting gym at Fenner’s. Rugby is a diverse and inclusive sport that accepts women of all sizes.

Women’s rugby has so much potential. To fulfill this potential, however, female players must not be boxed into negative stereotypes and must be appreciated for the athletic prowess they possess. The game must be viewed on its own merits. At Cambridge, women’s rugby is fortunate enough to have the support of the prominent men’s club, but attitudes on a wider level must change. In order to continue progressing, women’s rugby needs to go on building its base of players, coaches, referees and supporters. To this end, the Rugby Football Union’s efforts to publicise women’s rugby off the back of next year’s World Cup are commendable. Providing people better and more information about the sport is the first step towards breaking down the negative attitudes and unfounded stereotypes that would lead the sport to stagnate if left unchecked.

Seeing is believing, and the best way to prove the strength out there in women’s rugby is to see it; with CUWRFC’s twice-weekly matches, there are plenty of chances to do so. I can’t promise another 92-0 victory, but I guarantee it will make you reconsider what you thought you knew about the sport.