Gill Burns Mbe: ‘red Roses Success Is A Huge Opportunity For Rugby’
It’s exciting that the significant growth of women’s rugby has continued to gather pace in recent years. This has been helped not only by the greater visibility of the women’s game across UK mainstream TV, but the rise in good quality social media coverage too.
I love the fact that women’s rugby players, commentators, pundits and podcast hosts are now becoming global names. The more people that know, the more people that see, the more people that accept rugby is a game for women, then the more women will play.
I’ve always tried to make a positive impact since I first played for England in the late 80s. I wasn’t aware I was a pioneer at the time but looking back, I’m really proud of having played a small part in helping the game to grow.
I enjoy the feeling of helping others, and have been delighted to support Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby. The work they do is terrific, and I have seen first-hand the benefits that children with disabilities and those living in a deprived environment enjoy when new opportunities are afforded to them by the charity.
It’s no secret that the Women’s Rugby World Cup will lead to an increase in participation of the sport at grassroots level, and with the success of the Red Roses, there’s a massive opportunity to take the women’s game to the next level in this country.
England are no doubt the strongest team in world rugby and certainly my favourites to be crowned champions on Saturday. Simon Middleton’s squad has great strength in depth, and I truly believe that he can use his bench to enhance the game plan when he brings his replacements on. However, there is nothing like a home World Cup to inspire the Black Ferns who I am sure believe they will win the championship this year.
As a whole, the enthusiasm for this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup has been fantastic – the crowds we have seen over here in New Zealand have really embraced the games at Whangarei and Waitakere, with families, girls and boys watching and enjoying, and crucially learning that rugby is a game for all.
The highlight off the field of play for me was when a local group of schoolgirls performed their own ‘haka’ after the England v South Africa game and many of the England players faced them and watched as they performed, giving them a warm round of applause at the end.
The girls were so excited after they finished, cheering and hugging each other with delight and then spent time with the Red Roses who kindly posed with them for selfies, signed their programmes, flags and other souvenirs. Those girls were truly inspired – and all those watching this happen were too.
To sustain the growth of the game, the key is to provide further global exposure. The games need to be played on terrestrial TV throughout the world, on free to air channels.
To sustain the growth of the game, the key is to provide further global exposure.
It’s also exciting that TikTok will again sponsor next year’s Women’s Six Nations and, given how huge and influential the platform is and the demographic it attracts, it’s definitely a superb avenue through which to encourage more young children to come along to watch a game, and potentially involve themselves in the sport – especially girls.
That bigger player pool will result in higher standards at the top of our game. World Rugby are working hard to support the weaker nations and I am optimistic that, with the support of their home unions, most of the 16 teams at the next World Cup in England in 2025 will be professional.
Gill Burns MBE, is a former England captain and an ambassador for Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby.
