World Rugby has launched its Impact Beyond 2025 global Impact programme with the aim of capturing the long-standing positive impact of Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025, the biggest-ever celebration of women’s rugby.
The global impact programme is built around three core themes of profile and participation, careers and gender equity, and capability and expertise within a whole-game approach with the mission of inspiring more women and girls to get into rugby on and off the field of play.
Each theme articulates a series of strategic initiatives that will ensure the positive impact of Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 is felt for generations to come, cementing the foundations for a strong a sustainable women’s game around the world.
- Profile and participation – increasing the global love of the game
England 2025 represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of the sport, as the momentum of the women’s game keeps building with attendance records continuing to be smashed around the world.
By increasing the visibility of female athletes and sharing the powerful stories behind our teams and players, we will inspire more women and girls to embrace rugby and make it a lifelong passion.
The biggest driver for change will be Rugby Rising Play, World Rugby’s first bespoke girls’ participation programme focused on expanding the active teenage female player base globally and creating the next generation of players retained in the game. The initiative enables membership unions to implement a tailored rugby programme for girls that also creates a holistic learning environment aligning with rugby’s values.
The benefits of this programme are already starting to be felt following a successful pilot which ran across nine unions in five regions from 2023 through to 2024 and saw 5,300 girls play rugby for the first time.
- Careers and gender equity – more women in the rugby workforce
A key aim of the plan is to inspire, connect and retain women in the rugby ecosystem. Through a series of career development, work experience and networking opportunities, World Rugby will foster a global network of leaders who are passionate about advancing women’s rugby.
ChildFund Rugby will be hosting Grassroots to Global community forums across the globe. This will address barriers to women coaching rugby at grassroots level through 30+ Grassroots to Global forums, involving more than 900 women in community rugby
- Capability and expertise – stronger sustainable unions
Finally, the plan will enhance capability and expertise within World Rugby’s member unions, equipping the wider rugby community with the tools and knowledge needed to continue growing the game long after the final whistle in 2025. A key moment will be during RWC 2025 when World Rugby hosts its Women’s Rugby Global Summit that will connect, engage and inspire delegates through collaborative learning and sharing of expertise and insight.
Six regional Impact Beyond summits, delivered across 2024-2026, will help build additional expertise locally, ensuring that the women’s global network is stronger and more connected than ever before. This is not just a plan for a tournament. It is a launchpad for the future of women’s rugby, ensuring that the impact of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 is felt worldwide for generations to come.
World Rugby Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont said: “Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 England will be an era-defining moment for the game. Not simply because it will be the biggest celebration of women’s rugby ever, but because it will change the game.
Our ambitious Impact Beyond 2025 programme will harness the incredible momentum of the tournament to guide strong and sustainable growth across all areas of the women’s game, a focus that will grow the game as a whole. We look forward to implementing the global Impact Beyond 2025 plan in partnership with our membership to create a tangible, targeted legacy.”
World Rugby Chief of Women’s Rugby Sally Horrox said: “Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 promises to be an era defining celebration of rugby, as well as a catalyst for participation, economic and fan growth. Women and girls represent the most addressable opportunity to spearhead the growth of rugby and make a positive impact across the wider game and wider society.
The plan was launched via a series of webinars for unions and regions this week and World Rugby will partner with stakeholders to implement the plan across the globe.
ChildFund Rugby
Following a successful partnership across the past three editions of the tournament, ChildFund has been appointed as the tournament Social Impact Partner for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
Funds raised through RWC 2025 tickets sales and donations will be used to make a lasting impact and help change the lives of vulnerable girls and boys across the world. Every donation will support the transformative Pass It Back rugby initiative, which empowers young people, promotes gender equality, and builds critical life skills and confidence.
To make a donation, visit www.childfundrugby.org/rwc2025/.
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