Impact Beyond 2025 - Global Impact Report

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Impact Beyond 2025

Global Impact Report

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Creating a global legacy from a record
breaking Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 (RWC 2025) was the biggest, best, and most successful women’s rugby event of all time. While the tournament set new standards on and off the pitch, its lasting impact will be defined by the bold and defining choices made by our sport to harness the momentum of the tournament and drive meaningful change.
This year, World Rugby is implementing an ambitious new strategy to secure a strong and sustainable global game. It is driven by a clear purpose - to unite rugby and enrich lives through
iconic events, impactful investment, and the
leadership and support of our member unions.
The women’s game sits at the very heart of
this strategy, strengthening our foundations,
building our fanbase and commercial appeal, and
making rugby more relevant and accessible for
generations to come.
Brett Robinson
Chair of Executive Board and Council,
World Rugby
World Rugby committed to using RWC 2025
as a catalyst for lasting change. Our Global
Impact Programme, Impact Beyond 2025, was
developed to deliver this change by harnessing
RWC 2025 to inspire and empower women and
girls in rugby worldwide. This report highlights
the early impact of the programme and the
commitments made long in advance of RWC
2025. Working in partnership with Unions, we are
already seeing tangible progress in participation
and leadership opportunities for women and
girls, alongside stronger systems that support
the development of women’s rugby worldwide.
While RWC 2025’s momentum remains
powerful, our focus now is on sustaining that
impact to help shape a stronger, more inclusive
future for the global rugby family.
Sally Horrox
Chief of Women’s Rugby,
World Rugby
The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
has changed women’s rugby forever
444,465
tickets sold
81,885
world record attendance
92%
attendance across
the tournament
1.1bn
tournament social
impressions
5.8m
watched the Final
on the BBC
This report focuses on Impact Beyond 2025 , World Rugby’s Global Impact Programme, developed to harness RWC 2025 to inspire and empower women and girls in rugby worldwide.
Impact Beyond 2025 is a commitment to inspiring and empowering
women in rugby and delivering lasting impact from RWC 2025
Inspiring more women and girls to play rugby, stay in the game,
and follow their heroes
35,500 teenage girls playing rugby through
the Rugby Rising play grants across 42 Unions
and 6 Regions
10 Content Creators embedded with
teams driving visibility through 31m
impressions, 29m views, 418 posts
Supporting women in rugby to thrive in their careers
56 countries represented across Impact
Beyond Careers participants
440,420 posts and comments analysed
to combat online abuse
Empowering Unions to build a stronger future for women’s rugby
50+ Unions were
upskilled at the World
Rugby Regional Summits
400+ sporting leaders
took part in the World
Rugby Global Summit
350,000+ views on the
Blueprint for Growth, the most
comprehensive commercial guide
for women’s rugby published
Inspiring more women and girls to play rugby,
stay in the game, and follow their heroes
Rugby is a chance for girls to be part of a community that
welcomes her and stays with her for the rest of her life.
Maria Roberta Godim
Rugby Rising Play Coach, Brazil
Rugby Rising Play grants are expanding
access to rugby worldwide, empowering
girls and inspiring them to stay in the game
World Rugby’s flagship participation programme designed to help
recruit and retain more teenage girls in rugby.
35500
girls playing rugby
42
Unions received
grants
980
people in the workforce
6
regions
Programme feedback
95%
Of Unions agreed the grants have expanded
participation
And agreed the Union would continue the
programme beyond 2025
Grants supported developing Unions
to create new participation opportunities
for women and girls globally
1
1

Cayman

1100 participants

Cayman rugby T-shirt for all participants

U14s and U18s Miami tour
2
2

Brazil

1452 participants Produced a documentary following six trailblazing women whose leadership is shaping rugby:
3
3

Bosnia & Herzegovina

500 teenage participants 6 universities supporting women’s rugby 4 cities with girls’ team 2 national rugby camps
4
4

Nigeria

1559 teenage participants “Rugby gave me a voice. I feel confident, strong, and respected. I want to keep playing and teach others, especially girls who think they can’t…”
Ladi Haruna, aged 15
5
5

Laos

120 girls from rural and vulnerable communities engaged 92% Parents saw positive experiences shared at home, influencing families and communities 85% of participants reported improved knowledge, attitudes, and skills
6
6

Cook Islands

90 girls new to rugby Rugby festivals connect Pa Enua communities through sport and shared experiences
Hover over
the numbers
to find out more
Content creators
elevated the global
profile of women’s
rugby
A fourteenth accreditation and fully
embedded content creator were provided
to teams, enabling consistent, high-quality
content delivery across the tournament. This
created fan-first, entertainment-led content,
placing authentic storytelling and players at
the heart of the narrative.
#RWCBTS Content Creator Programme Summary
418
posts created
31m
impressions
29m
views
1.2m
engagements
IN FOCUS
Genesis Cele
RWC 2025 Content Creator
for Springbok Women’s
Inspiring through visibility My favourite thing was seeing players get inspired by
each other. When the videos went live, more players
wanted in. They could see their voices being heard.
Showing the potential of women’s rugby content This World Cup had the biggest reach yet, but it’s
only the beginning. As more people take social media
seriously and recognise its power, that’s when we’ll
really see change.
Genesis’ Impact: @Womenboks at RWC 2025
76
posts
9m
views
+54%
follower growth
Including
the highest
performing
piece of
content
4.1m
views
Capturing the stories of RWC 2025 and growing
the global following of women’s rugby.
Content Creators focused as much on life off the pitch as on it, helping rugby feel
more relevant, visible and part of wider popular culture.
Players’
stories
Content
Creators’
stories
Raising awareness
of women’s health
encouraging women
to stay in rugby
Women’s Health Resources were developed to share vital
knowledge on key women’s health topics within rugby -
including webinars on the menstrual cycle, pelvic health,
breast health, and nutrition.
20 Countries were represented among participants
100
%
All Participants said the
webinars were extremely
or very useful
90
%
Learnt strategies on
preventing breast injuries and
managing the menstrual cycle
Said they would share
learning with colleagues and
medical staff
From the Experts
This work has created a valuable pool of
information that we’ll continue to draw from,
enabling us to generate even more insights
and value for women’s rugby in the future.
Its impact will extend well beyond this project. Dr. Lindsay Starling World Rugby, Science and Medical Manager.
From the Participants
Promoting knowledge sharing In my country, discussing women’s health
remains a taboo - which is why resources
like these are so important to promote open
conversation
Promoting women’s health Thank you for the opportunity to learn and
understand the menstrual cycle and my
performance
Please continue to provide these great topics
on woman’s health - I appreciate you!
Supporting women in rugby to
thrive in their careers
The programme helped me gain practical skills to communicate more
effectively, build stronger relationships, and navigate challenging
situations with confidence. I am now better equipped to contribute to my
team and influence positive outcomes within my work environment.
Career Development Programme Participant
I gained valuable feedback that changed how I see myself
and my career journey. I learnt the importance of speaking
up, building connections and backing yourself.
Palak Poddar
Being part of the Impact Beyond Program has been
a once in a lifetime experience. The women we’ve
learned from - their journeys, their strengths, their
powerful honesty - have changed forever how I see
myself and what is possible.
Louise Wilson
Empowering more women to build
meaningful networks and pursue
long-term careers in rugby
100+
women across
56 countries
took part in Impact Beyond: Careers . A year-long
career boosting programme delivering training
and networking to support women advancing
their careers within rugby.
Programme outcomes
Connecting participants with leading women and experts in rugby
Showcasing the full range of careers across the game
Inspiring women to see rugby as a long-term career path
Building connections and professional networks
Ensuring women know how to stay in the game
35%
increase in participants’
awareness of rugby career
pathways
40%
increase in participants’
confidence in their ability
to build relationships
50%
increase in participants’
confidence in their ability
to negotiate tough
relationships
Developing the next
generation of international
match officials
A team of emerging match officials completed
the Match Official legacy programme, including
a 10-day placement in England during the
RWC 2025:
Opportunity to experience the elite environment by
shadowing the RWC 2025 squad
13 development sessions
Refereed at local fixtures in London
Attended RWC 2025 matches
World Rugby’s match official legacy programme
supported by Emirates
Emma Gallagher
Rugby Canada
Teamwork and support Rugby refereeing is usually an individual
sport, but this programme allowed us
to train and grow as a team.
Professional development Through this experience,
I can now see myself as a peer among
top officials. It feels incredible to have
built genuine relationships and mutual
respect. The support I have received
gives me real confidence
for the future.
Hollie Davidson
RWC 2025 referee
Protecting our elite players and
match officials from online abuse
at RWC 2025
Individuals at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 were 69% more likely to
be targeted with online abuse then individuals in the Men’s Rugby World
Cup 2023.
World Rugby took a powerful stand against online abuse towards players and match
officials, with the launch of the social media protection service for RWC 2025.
45
accounts targeted for abuse and threats
440,420
potentially abusive posts and
comments analysed
14,439
posts and comments flagged by Threat
Matrix AI and reviewed by analysts
1,189
posts verified as abusive following the
Threat Matrix review
Any abusive, discriminatory or threatening messages were escalated to the platform and/or the relevant authorities and unions.
World Rugby’s Commitment
World Rugby’s Social Media Protection Service creates a safer online environment through a
proactive, action-led approach to athlete protection. By educating stakeholders on the scale
of online abuse and generating insights to drive change, the initiative stimulates ongoing
discussion and awareness while placing athlete welfare at its core. Safer online spaces
enable authentic athlete storytelling, stronger audience connections, and increased
brand value.
Supporting players and match
officials to prepare for and thrive
at RWC 2025
World Rugby worked with Dr. Araba “Roo” Chintoh, a Consultant
Psychiatrist and chair of the Women’s Player Welfare Working Group,
to provide the most comprehensive mental health support to date
for players and match officials involved in a Rugby World Cup.
Before the Tournament
Mental Health Support
A mental health module on the Women’s Rugby Players
Hub
with core concepts of mental wellbeing, stigma
reduction, trauma-informed care, and sport-specific signs
of distress
An in-person workshop for each team and the RWC
2025 match officials on mental health
within the team
environment to:
1
Create space for honest conversation and vulnerability
2
Provide practical support strategies.
3
Normalise mental health conversations
Programme feedback
99%
enjoyed the mental
health course, found
it useful and would
recommend to peers
77%
felt confident their
team will now create
a process to address
mental health
concerns
It was very helpful and I know our team
really needed this to help us to succeed -
feeling vulnerable is a great way to build
connections on the team.
RWC 2025 team
The Women’s Rugby Players Hub
also provided player-centric personal
development support for elite rugby
players and match officials. All RWC 2025
teams were enrolled and had access to
courses across wellbeing, performance,
and off-field development.
The platform supported players and match
officials through practical learning on areas
such as mental health, contracts, health,
and social media.
Supporting players and
match officials to prepare for
and thrive at RWC 2025
At the Tournament
Player Peer Support Group
A landmark initiative trained 37 former internationals in
peer-support skills and assigned them in groups to Unions
participating at RWC 2025.
Team managers distributed flyers with a QR code that
enabled direct communication with peer mentors.
Provided trusted, confidential support that helped individuals
at RWC 2025 feel safe to share concerns.
Upskilled past players and reintegrated them into the rugby
environment, encouraging continued engagement.
84%
of players rated the service
good or excellent
Post RWC 2025 impact There were some great conversations and support provided during
RWC 2025 and we’re starting to see real momentum and engagement
post-world cup. As the players become more comfortable with the peer
support, it’s something we expect to grow. Past players support group The peer supporters have found a new sense of community and purpose.
They’re using the skills and insight they gained as players to make a
meaningful contribution beyond the pitch.
Dr. Araba “Roo” Chintoh
Empowering Unions to build a stronger
future for women’s rugby
Women’s rugby is moving forward and the support of
women leaders worldwide is right there with us.
Attendee, Global Summit
My biggest takeaway from the Global Summit was
the power of intentional networking - investing
in genuine relationships drives new ideas,
collaboration, and lasting impact.
Member Union attendee
World Rugby Global Summit:
An event that united, inspired
and celebrated the rise of
women’s rugby
Held in London on the day before the Women’s Rugby World Cup
2025 Final, the Women’s Rugby Global Summit brought together
400+ leaders from across global sport, including representatives
from the International Olympic Committee and UN Women.
At the Global Summit, we heard from powerful leaders who
are shaping the future of women’s sport and business globally.
We shared learnings across rugby and set the agenda for the
women’s game in this new era.
From the Global Summit Survey:
92%
of attendees now feel inspired to continue to
grow the women’s and girls’ game
3x
increase in the number of attendees feeling
extremely confident about the potential for
growth within women’s rugby
94%
of attendees found it beneficial to hear from
experts outside of rugby, from across
wider sport or industries
Regional Summits:
Bringing Unions together
to drive progress through
focused training and
powerful collaboration
50+
unions upskilled
Regional Summits increased the confidence and
capability of unions to lead, grow and deliver
women’s rugby.
1
1

Africa Summit

50% increase in respondents feeling extremely
confident around growing the women’s game

Impact Champions Programme emerged from
this regional collaboration at the Africa Summit

For more information: click here

2
2

Asia Summit

94% of attendees are now very
likely to collaborate with other
unions

94% of attendees enhanced their
knowledge on growing the game

For more information: click here

3
3

Europe Summit

96% increased their knowledge on how World Rugby events can grow engagement

93% had increased confidence in delivering successful female participation programmes

Future
Summits
South America Summit
Oceania Summit
Rugby Americas
North Summit
Hover over
the numbers
to find out more
Empowering regional changemakers
to shape the future of their unions
Programme support partners
The Africa Regional Summit inspired the Impact Champions Programme,
designed to empower female leaders in African rugby and create lasting
positive change. The programme brought together 12 participants from
6 unions to undertake a range of bespoke projects which addressed key
challenges such as representation of women in the sport to navigating
pregnancy and rugby.
Participating
Unions
The Impact Champion project for Madagascar focused on enhancing the
visibility of Malagasy women’s rugby.
This project significantly boosted the visibility of Malagasy women’s rugby
by sharing powerful, authentic stories of the Makis Ladies Sevens on social
media. In just four months, the campaign had:
5000
followers on their
Facebook page
500000
views
The campaign helped to shift perceptions, inspire more girls to play,
and attract stronger Union and partner support.
World Rugby’s Blueprint for Growth
empowers unions and stakeholders
across the game to accelerate the
global growth of women’s rugby
Blueprint for Growth is the most comprehensive fan data and commercial
analysis ever published in the women’s game.
The report has been shared across World Rugby channels and has received
strong engagement.
350,000+
views
8,000+
Interactions
(likes, comments, reposts)
1,200+
Report Sessions
and that saw coverage across wider media channels:
Digital Publication available in English, French, Spanish and Italian .
Access the
Blueprint
for Growth
publication here.
Supporting Unions to access new
funds and achieve sustainable growth
World Rugby’s first ever fundraising training for Unions is supporting them
to unlock new sources of funding, broadening their income streams to
become more financially sustainable.
Bespoke fundraising toolkit for rugby unions, covering:
Bespoke online group training with fundraising specialists - designed to
give Unions confidence to apply for new sources of funding
Getting ready to
fundraise
Grant proposals
Funding strategies
One on one intensive support with three individual Unions to apply for
specific funding opportunities
1st
fundraising
toolkit
for Unions
90+
Unions engaged
in training
50+
training hours
with experts
Remedy supported us every step of the way. The webinars were excellent
and the ongoing support meant we never felt left on our own. This was
particularly valuable given our boards limited capacity for fundraising.
Participating Union
Uniting community leaders worldwide
to strengthen the global game, in
partnership with ChildFund Rugby
The Grassroots to Global Series, delivered by Unions in partnership with ChildFund Rugby ,
unites women leaders in community rugby through national forums and supports them to develop
plans to grow women and girls’ participation and leadership.
The Series culminated in a Connect event in Sunderland during Rugby World Cup 2025, bringing
together participating Unions and community leaders to share insights, align on practical
solutions, and strengthen the global women’s rugby community.
Programme Reach
1000+
participants attended
over 32 forums in
29 countries
Programme Feedback
80%
agreed with the statement
"I know how to be a leader
in my rugby community"
90%
agree that the forum was
relevant and valuable for
their personal development
Hong Kong China Rugby Union
The Union held a 2-day Grassroots to Global forum that brought female leaders together to accelerate
awareness of key issues within the union and ideate solutions. The forum will inform the Union’s future
strategy on female representation in governance, including targeted investment and female talent
programmes.
"There were frustrations around the gender balance in governance positions throughout the domestic game
in Hong Kong China, so it provided an opportunity talk about it...There was a confidence that came through
at the end of the forum, women were feeling empowered to step into, and pursue, these leadership roles."
Jamie Farndale, Hong Kong China Rugby
PROGRAMME INSIGHTS
Impact Beyond 2025 demonstrated…
The power of a bespoke global
programme
  • Brings all initiatives under a single
    brand ensuring clear messaging and
    alignment
  • Prioritises impact and legacy planning
    at every stage
  • Demonstrates powerful impact through
    tracking and reporting of all activity
The gamechangers that
make the difference
  • Building local and global communities
    of change makers who will drive the
    women’s game
  • Ongoing focus on mental health as part
    of player welfare and a key priority for
    future Rugby World Cups
  • Driving audience growth through social
    media content strategies and unlocking
    the power of player personalities
How major global tournaments
can drive meaningful change
  • Provides platform for flagship
    programmes and campaigns
  • Gives players a unique opportunity to
    reach a global audience and showcase
    their personalities and talent
  • Demonstrates the growing commercial
    appeal of women’s rugby to global
    partners
World Rugby has a new strategic plan for 2026 – 2031, driving forward the whole game
POWERING RUGBY. UNITING THE GAME. ENRICHING LIVES.
WE BRING PEOPLE AND RUGBY TOGETHER THROUGH:
Iconic events
Impactful Investment
Leadership and Member Services
Maximising the opportunity that the women’s game presents is central to
this strategy; by 2031, we will have established a globally competitive and
sustainable women’s game that contributes towards rugby’s future growth
Sally Horrox, Chief of Women’s Rugby, World Rugby
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