Latest news with #WorldRugby
South Wales Argus
10 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Women's Rugby World Cup will change the sport, says Hunter
England will play host to the biggest Women's Rugby World Cup ever seen when it gets underway in Sunderland on 22 August. Ticket sales have already broken records, but Hunter believes the impact goes past just the game in England. 'It is global. Because we are in England, we think about what can the growth be like here, but I genuinely think this could be a moment in time for the women's game worldwide,' Hunter said. 'What it can do to create that lasting legacy that really puts women's rugby on the map. 'If you look at where all the countries are coming from, you have South America, Brazil coming to their first World Cup, you've got Samoa returning for the first time in 11 years. 'All these wonderful nations, including Canada and the USA which in the men's game you might not think they are traditional rugby countries. 'I think that is what is so good about the women's game is that actually, it gets into places that maybe it hasn't been thought they play rugby. 'The eyes of the world will be on this tournament and if that is in countries that don't normally have rugby then that is a window where they can create their own legacy in their own right. 'Whether that is playing, whether that is fanbase, whatever that might be, I just think we've got a real opportunity, we've got more media attention, more fans coming from around the world. 'I think it is a prime opportunity to grow the game globally.' It is not just on the pitch or in the stands that the World Cup will have impact, with coaching set to be a key focus. The Gallagher High Performance Academy (GHPA) will see 16 female coaches embedded within their unions during the tournament. The World Rugby initiative aims to increase the number of female coaches in elite rugby by providing workshops and mentors as well as first-hand experience at tournaments. Hunter, who now serves as England defence coach, was part of the first GHPA cohort and believes it is doing important work in removing the barriers for women coaching in rugby. She added: 'Some of the barriers females find going into coaching, they don't often know the pathway exists or the opportunity is there. 'Sometimes I guess it might be seen as a risk to take on board a female who doesn't necessarily have all the previous experience, but they have got the skillset and the ability to do it. 'But they haven't been given the opportunity so that is what the High Performance Academy does. 'It gives people the opportunity to get a foot in the door, and it also allows the nation to have a female come in and just see the added value can have in their programme.' Gallagher is Right Here for Rugby; Right Here for Business; and Right Here for You.
South Wales Argus
10 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Packer still has role to play for England, says Hunter
Sarah Hunter believes Marlie Packer still has an important role to play in England's World Cup campaign. Packer was replaced as captain by Zoe Aldcroft ahead of the 2025 Women's Six Nations, with the back row playing two of England's five matches as they won the Grand Slam. Despite her reduced role, former skipper Hunter, who now works as England's defence coach, believes there is a place for her in the squad. 'Marlie Packer had a bit of change in role from captaincy, now vice-captain,' Hunter explained. "This is her fourth World Cup, she brings so much experience. 'She's been captain so she can support Zoe really well, in terms of what it is like to be captain, what it is like to be at a World Cup. 'But that is not taking away from what she can deliver on the pitch. Some of her performances in the Six Nations, she put her head in places where people probably don't want to put them. 'She is this bundle of energy that you need within a squad, you need in those close World Cup game.' The Rugby World Cup begins on 22 August in Sunderland with Bristol's Ashton Gate set to host both semi-finals. Hunter hopes she and England will be there for one of them, having transitioned into coaching after retiring in 2023 and one of the first cohort in the Gallagher High Performance Academy. The World Rugby initiative aims to increase the number of female coaches in elite rugby by providing workshops and mentors as well as embedding coaches with unions at major tournaments. Hunter's first tournament was WXV in 2023, which England won, and she has helped stretched the Red Roses win streak to 25. Her work in the defence means she will work closely with Packer, who Hunter believes will fulfil any duty asked of her. She added: 'Marlie is reliable, she is dependable, she is someone that gets it, she is so passionate about playing for her country. 'She will do anything she can, she will play the role that she needs to for whatever game that is. 'She is very team-first, she will put people before herself to ensure whatever it is that is needed, she will ensure that either she does it or she supports the people who need to do it.' Gallagher is Right Here for Rugby; Right Here for Business; and Right Here for You.
Powys County Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Maddie Feaunati set to bring 'Kiwi flair' to 2025 Rugby World Cup
Sarah Hunter believes Exeter Chiefs' Maddie Feaunati will bring some Kiwi flair to England's Rugby World Cup campaign. The back row has risen to prominence since making her Red Roses debut last year, having moved from New Zealand to Devon in 2023. The 23-year-old was born in Leeds and spent half of her childhood in England as her dad Isaac Fe'aunati represented Leeds Tykes and Bath but is now making her own name in rugby. 'Maddie Feaunati has come on the scene a little bit later,' former England captain Hunter explained. 'She signed for Exeter Chiefs and has come across from New Zealand. 'But she grew up in England when her dad Zak Fe'aunati was playing for Bath and Leeds, so she speaks openly about how she wants to play for England, she grew up with rugby here and started playing rugby here. 'She brings that typical New Zealand way of playing, getting ball in hand early and makes things happen. 'Generally, we will see her in wider spaces, using footwork to beat people, great athletic ability, great pace. The new Women's Rugby World Cup trophy is looking good... 😎 #RWC2025 | #ThisEnergyNeverStops — World Rugby (@WorldRugby) May 14, 2025 'It adds to the brand of rugby that we want to play, that fast type of game, she has got that skillset, whether she is putting someone else into space. 'It takes a lot for people to run through her as well.' Feaunati is expected to be named to England's World Cup squad ahead of the tournament starting in Sunderland on 22 August. Exeter's Sandy Park will host their first match of the tournament the next day when England take on France, the first of seven matches at the stadium. Hunter will be involved at the World Cup as England's defence coach having swapped playing for coaching in 2023. She was part of the first cohort of the Gallagher High Performance Academy, a World Rugby initiative to increase the number of female coaches in elite rugby. Hunter was embedded with England for their victorious WXV campaign, and 16 more coaches will get an opportunity to work with their unions at the World Cup. England's most-capped player added: 'They place you with your union at a tournament, so you can fully embed and put all those learnings into practice. 'Having that opportunity to have that support right from the beginning has been a huge benefit to me.'
Japan Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Japan Times
England players suffered racist abuse from fans in Argentina, World Rugby says
England lodged an official complaint with World Rugby after their players suffered racist abuse from spectators during their win over Argentina in San Juan on July 12, but the perpetrators could not be identified, the global governing body said on Monday. The RFU made the complaint on July 15, World Rugby said in a statement, adding that an immediate investigation was launched involving witness statements and video analysis. "While it is clear that an incident took place, we regret that the individuals responsible could not be identified," World Rugby said. "There is no place in rugby or society for discrimination, abuse or hate speech, and any complaint of discrimination is taken extremely seriously by World Rugby." World Rugby chair Brett Robinson condemned the incident. "We offer our full support to the players involved and want them to know that rugby stands with them in opposing racism. I applaud their courage in raising what must have been a highly distressing experience," he said. Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) President Gabriel Travaglini also condemned the incident, saying a "group of five or seven individuals" was responsible for the abuse. Over 20,000 spectators were at the Estadio Bicentenario as England sealed a 2-0 win in the two-match test series. "Unfortunately, despite an exhaustive search, it was not possible to identify the perpetrators," Travaglini said. "We will continue to work collaboratively with World Rugby to educate the fans and eradicate any similar manifestations in the future, ensuring that our events are spaces of respect and inclusion for everyone." England Rugby CEO Bill Sweeney also condemned the abuse. "Every player, regardless of their background, has the right to represent their country with pride and dignity, free from discrimination and abuse. We are in close contact with the players affected and have offered them our full support," he said in a statement. "We're pleased that World Rugby was able to act swiftly to investigate and thank UAR for their full cooperation and support throughout. We trust that they will take the necessary steps to prevent any recurrence of such unacceptable behaviour." In 2020, the UAR stripped Pablo Matera of the captaincy and stood him and two other players down from Argentina's final Tri Nations clash against Australia after the flanker allegedly published discriminatory and xenophobic posts on social media several years earlier.
News24
a day ago
- Sport
- News24
England's racism claim in Argentina clash upheld by World Rugby
World Rugby have upheld England's claim that their players were subjected to racist abuse from fans during a recent tour match in Argentina. England made an official complaint about the taunts on 15 July, three days after winning 22-17 at Estadio Bicentenario in San Juan. World Rugby said it had worked with the Argentinian rugby federation to develop an action plan to enhance their operations, educate fans and help prevent further incidents. READ | SuperSport seeking Springbok commentary depth, Matt Pearce set to return Despite conducting an 'immediate and thorough investigation' involving witness statements and video analysis, world rugby's governing body was unable to identify the individuals responsible. 'There is no place in rugby or society for discrimination, abuse or hate speech, and any complaint of discrimination is taken extremely seriously,' a World Rugby statement said. 'While it is clear that an incident took place, we regret that the individuals responsible could not be identified.' Gabriel Travaglini, president of the Union Argentina de Rugby, condemned the abuse. 'Upon learning of the incidents, intense efforts were made to identify the small group of five or seven individuals responsible within a crowd of over 20 000 spectators,' he said. 'Unfortunately, despite an exhaustive search, it was not possible to identify the perpetrators. 'We will continue to work collaboratively with World Rugby to educate the fans and eradicate any similar manifestations in the future, ensuring that our events are spaces of respect and inclusion for everyone.' England completed a 2-0 series win over Argentina with the victory before ending their tour with a win against the United States in Washington on Saturday.
