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IOL News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Women's Rugby World Cup to offer players mental health support
The Rugby World Cup trophy on display at the 2021 tournament, which was hosted in New Zealand in 2022. Photo: John Cowpland/AFP Image: John Cowpland/AFP Women's Rugby World Cup chiefs have promised to offer players "mental health support" after saying female athletes are "30 percent more likely" to suffer social media abuse than their male counterparts. While the likes of tournament hosts England are a professional side who have become used to increasing scrutiny, several of the other 15 competing teams are semi-professional or amateur outfits for whom the World Cup will provide a whole new level of exposure. "Supporting athletes, having an athlete-centred approach, I think, is fundamental to everything that the competition is doing and that we are doing at World Rugby," said Sally Horrox, the global governing body's head of women's rugby. "So our performance teams have been working very closely on programmes with the unions to make sure that there is mental health support, for example, for those athletes who are away from home. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. "Some of them have families, some of them have other jobs. The game in many parts of the world is still an amateur to semi-professional game, so they will be experiencing something very, very different. "So we take our responsibilities very seriously." Tournament organisers said Tuesday they expected the September 27 final at Twickenham to feature a sell-out crowd of over 80,000 – a record for any women's rugby match. More than 375,000 tickets have been sold across all 32 matches at this World Cup, with a huge global television audience anticipated as well. "We're ready to break records in attendances, viewership and engagement," tournament director Sarah Massey said during Tuesday's launch event at Twickenham. "This is going to be the biggest global celebration of women's rugby that we have ever seen." But with that opportunity come attendant risks and World Rugby, in April, announced a collaboration with the Signify Group to use the data organisation's 'Threat Matrix' that monitors social media platforms to detect and report abusive posts and comments. "No one deserves that type of abuse in this environment," said Horrox. "And sadly, female athletes, are 30 percent more likely to experience this type of abuse than men." World Cup favourites England open the tournament against the United States in the northeast city of Sunderland on Friday, with the Americans boasting a breakout social media star in Ilona Maher, who has amassed over eight million followers. AFP
The 42
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Women's Rugby World Cup to offer players 'mental health support'
WOMEN'S RUGBY WORLD chiefs have promised to offer players 'mental health support' after saying female athletes are '30% more likely' to suffer social media abuse than their male counterparts. While the likes of tournament hosts England are a professional side who have become used to increasing scrutiny, several of the other 15 competing teams are semi-professional or amateur outfits for whom the World Cup will provide a whole new level of exposure. 'Supporting athletes, having an athlete-centred approach, I think, is fundamental to everything that the competition is doing and that we are doing at World Rugby,' said Sally Horrox, the global governing body's head of women's rugby. 'So our performance teams have been working very closely on programmes with the unions to make sure that there is mental health support, for example, for those athletes who are away from home. 'Some of them have families, some of them have other jobs. The game in many parts of the world is still an amateur to semi-professional game, so they will be experiencing something very, very different. Advertisement 'So we take our responsibilities very seriously.' Tournament organisers said Tuesday they expected the 27 September final at Twickenham to feature a sell-out crowd of over 80,000 — a record for any women's rugby match. More than 375,000 tickets have been sold across all 32 matches at this World Cup, with a huge global television audience anticipated as well. 'We're ready to break records in attendances, viewership and engagement,' tournament director Sarah Massey said during Tuesday's launch event at Twickenham. 'This is going to be the biggest global celebration of women's rugby that we have ever seen.' But with that opportunity come attendant risks and World Rugby, in April, announced a collaboration with the Signify Group to use the data organisation's 'Threat Matrix' that monitors social media platforms to detect and report abusive posts and comments. 'No one deserves that type of abuse in this environment,' said Horrox. 'And sadly, female athletes, are 30% more likely to experience this type of abuse than men.' World Cup favourites England open the tournament against the United States in the north-east city of Sunderland on Friday, with the Americans boasting a breakout social media star in Ilona Maher, who has amassed over eight million followers. The Red Roses named their team for the opener this afternoon, John Mitchell selecting an unchanged side from their final warm-up game. They beat France 40-6 in the second of two tune-ups earlier this month. Here we go 🌹 John Mitchell has named his Red Roses to face the USA in our #RWC2025 opener 👇#WearTheRose | #RedRoses — Red Roses (@RedRosesRugby) August 20, 2025 – © AFP 2025 With reporting from Press Association
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Women's Rugby World Cup to offer players ‘mental health support'
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox TWICKENHAM – Women's Rugby World Cup chiefs have promised to offer players 'mental health support' after saying that female athletes are '30 per cent more likely' to suffer social media abuse than their male counterparts. While the likes of tournament hosts England are a professional side who have become used to increasing scrutiny, several of the other 15 competing teams are semi-professional or amateur outfits for whom the World Cup will provide a whole new level of exposure. 'Supporting athletes, having an athlete-centred approach, I think, is fundamental to everything that the competition is doing and that we are doing at World Rugby,' said Sally Horrox, the global governing body's head of women's rugby. 'So our performance teams have been working very closely on programmes with the unions to make sure that there is mental health support, for example, for those athletes who are away from home. 'Some of them have families, some of them have other jobs. The game in many parts of the world is still an amateur to semi-professional game, so they will be experiencing something very, very different. 'So we take our responsibilities very seriously.' Tournament organisers said on Aug 19 they expected the Sept 27 final at Twickenham to feature a sell-out crowd of over 80,000 – a record for any women's rugby match. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 18 persons nabbed and 82 vapes seized in HSA ops in Raffles Place and Haji Lane Singapore 3 Sengkang Green Primary pupils suspended for bullying schoolmate, with 1 of them caned: MOE Singapore Woman trapped between train doors: Judge rules SBS Transit '100% responsible' Singapore Religion growing in importance for Singaporeans: IPS study Life Record number of arts patrons in 2024, but overall donation dips to $45.74m Life 'Loss that's irreplaceable': Local film-makers mourn closure of Singapore indie cinema The Projector Singapore Nearly 2 years' jail, caning for man caught with at least 100 sexually explicit videos of children Singapore Grab users in Singapore shocked by fares of over $1,000 due to display glitch More than 375,000 tickets have been sold across all 32 matches at this World Cup, with a huge global television audience anticipated as well. 'We're ready to break records in attendances, viewership and engagement,' tournament director Sarah Massey said during the launch event at Twickenham. 'This is going to be the biggest global celebration of women's rugby that we have ever seen.' But with that opportunity come attendant risks and World Rugby, in April, announced a collaboration with the Signify Group to use the data organisation's 'Threat Matrix' that monitors social media platforms to detect and report abusive posts and comments. 'No one deserves that type of abuse in this environment,' added Horrox. 'And sadly, female athletes, are 30 per cent more likely to experience this type of abuse than men.' World Cup favourites England open the tournament against the United States in the northeast city of Sunderland on Aug 22, with the Americans boasting a breakout social media star in Ilona Maher, who has amassed over eight million followers. Meanwhile in men's rugby, world champions South Africa will play Japan at Wembley on Nov 1 – the first time they have met in England since the Japanese recorded one of the greatest upsets in Rugby World Cup history in 2015. Japan, then as now coached by Eddie Jones, overcame the Springboks 34-32 in an absolute thriller of a match in Brighton. South Africa have gone on to beat the 'Brave Blossoms' twice since then, both times in Japan, as well as being crowned world champions in 2019 and 2023 giving them a record four victories in the sport's quadrennial showpiece. AFP
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
World Cup final tipped to smash attendance record for women's rugby match
Organisers of the Women's Rugby World Cup expect next month's Twickenham final to smash the attendance record for a women's rugby match. Tickets for the match on Saturday, September 27 have sold out, with approximately 82,000 supporters set to be at Allianz Stadium in south-west London. Advertisement The existing record for a women's 15s fixture is 58,498, set as England clinched the 2023 Six Nations Grand Slam by beating France 38-33 at Twickenham. World Rugby chief of women's rugby Sally Horrox, World Rugby chair Brett Robinson, Women's RWC 2025 managing director Sarah Massey and Women's RWC 2025 competition director Yvonne Nolan during the tournament opening press conference. Photo: Adam Davy/PA. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, a crowd of 66,000 watched the opening day of the women's rugby sevens programme at Stade de France. The PA news agency understands governing body World Rugby believes it could have sold out the World Cup final, which will be immediately preceded by the bronze medal match, two or three times over. More than 375,000 of the 470,000 tickets available for the 32 World Cup games have been snapped up ahead of Friday's opener between England and the United States at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. Advertisement Rugby World Cup 2025 chair Gill Whitehead said: 'The final, we are very confident will be the most attended women's rugby match in history, easily surpassing the 66,000 crowd that we saw in Paris 2024. Tickets for the World Cup final at Allianz Stadium have sold out. Photo: Adam Davy/PA. 'I started playing women's rugby 30 years ago and the prospect of girls running out of the tunnel, playing to the three tiers of Allianz packed to the rafters is something perhaps I never hoped or thought I would see. It's certainly what girls' dreams are made of.' England last staged the competition in 2010 when a crowd of just over 13,000 watched the hosts beat current reigning champions New Zealand 13-10 in the final at Twickenham Stoop. Rugby World Cup 2025 managing director Sarah Massey said total ticket sales have already surpassed initial targets and are three times the number bought at the 2021 tournament in New Zealand, which took place a year later than planned due to the coronavirus pandemic. Advertisement Massey says the tournament will be 'the biggest global celebration of women's rugby that we have ever seen'. Photo: Adam Davy/PA. A crowd of 42,579 watched the Black Ferns claim the trophy in 2022 by defeating the Reds Roses 34-31 at Eden Park in Auckland. 'We're ready to break records in attendances, viewership and engagement,' Massey said. 'This is going to be the biggest global celebration of women's rugby that we have ever seen. 'Our message to fans is, don't miss out. This is going to be unmissable. You're going to see thrilling action, electric atmospheres, and those remaining tickets are really selling fast.' Advertisement
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Why summer can be 'era-defining' for women's sport
A summer of major sporting events can be "era-defining" and help drive change that would see more women and girls enjoying sport, senior figures hosts the Rugby World Cup in August, with the Red Roses aiming to have a similar impact as their footballing counterparts in Lionesses won the European Championship on home soil and boosted participation in girls football."The World Cup is going to raise bar for women's rugby," said Sally Horrox, director of women's rugby at World Rugby, on a special Radio 5 Live programme, Names Will Be Made, to mark the BBC's Women's Summer of Sport."I think it will be a really era-defining moment. "It will shift from being a niche sport to mainstream, that will make a tremendous difference for girls the world over."Sarina Wiegman's footballers, meanwhile, are preparing to defend their European crown in Switzerland."It's incredible to think where the sport is now [after the success of 2022], and of course the Euros this summer gives us another chance to continue the growth of women's football in this country," said Kelly Simmons, former director of women's football at the Football Association."When I first started at the FA, our first count was 80 girls and women's teams across the whole country, now over three million girls and women play the sport."Star athletes such as Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson will also be in action at the World Athletics Championships in Olympic Association chair Dame Katherine Grainger told the programme that the summer of sport is a "unique opportunity to really make change" and to work on ways to remove some of the barriers facing women in sport."In a year's time, if we were to meet, I would want us all to sit and go 'this is now different', said Grainger. "All these moments are a unique opportunities to really make change. Whether it's in law, or people's lives, or in attitudes, the doing something next is important. Not just hearing and agreeing but taking action." Barriers facing female athletes Olympic swimmer Cassie Patten is 38 now, a mother of three, yet can still recall the anger she felt at a male coach's reaction to her being unable to train while on her 2008 bronze medallist spoke of how one male coach "looked me in the eye and said 'I'm so disappointed in you'" when she was unable to train through period cramps. "I said 'you have no idea'."And it was a theme shared by many of her fellow guests, made up of famous names - and those just starting out on their elite sport Tia Miah-Ayton, 18, who recently won her first professional fight, said: "I can put on three kilos on my period and if I don't make my weight I can't fight."Having predominantly male coaches, with less understanding of a woman's body, was cited as one barrier not just to participation, but elite many felt, while more female coaches were needed, there had been track cycling Olympic champion Sophie Capewell explained how an improvement in understanding had helped the women's squad to develop. "We aren't as consistent, periods have an impact, being able to talk has been huge," she said. "To have an open conversation, a few years ago it wouldn't have been the case." Dr Pippa Bennett, the UK Sports Institute's director of clinical governance and chief medical officer at the British Paralympic Association, said research on women's sport was "woefully lacking".Physiology expert Dr Emma O'Donnell called for better quality research into menstrual cycles and their effect on performance."Despite 40 years of research, we are not any closer to the answer," she other body issues faced by female athletes were discussed. Professor Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, professor of biomechanics and head of a research group in breast health at the University of Plymouth, explained how the right sports bra and support could impact on performance. She said it can shorten a stride by 4cms - over marathon distance that equates to a said there was a "disappointing lack of research in this area" and referred to one study in which 46% of women questioned said they left sport because of issues related to their she did say big brands were now investing in research in this kit designed for men remains an issue too - though there have been similar improvements as sport grows more inclusive, guests image was also seen as a barrier to taking part in sport, with athletic figures going against societal beauty standards - something guests agreed could change with more prominent role models."We have moved on, we are in a better place but there is still a lot of work to do," said Jenny Henderson, performance manager at England Golf. 'I just think about all the bad comments' Another issue facing female athletes in particular is online abuse, with women 30% more likely to be subject to it, according to research cited by World Rugby's week, some of England's Lionesses said they would be avoiding social media during this summer's tournament, while tennis player Katie Boulter has shared some of the horrific abuse she has suffered with BBC Sport to highlight the problem. "Since my fight I've got quite a lot of haters, I just think about all the bad comments," Miah-Ayton said World Rugby was among the sports monitoring abuse against female players, which it would be doing at the World Cup - and seeking to prosecute those behind it."You have to be free to compete without that threat," she said.
