Player eyes improvement to Cambridgeshire women's game through Rugby World Cup
She wants to see more opportunities for women and girls to play
A women's rugby player in Cambridgeshire hopes other women and girls watching this year's World Cup can take inspiration to try the sport.
England Rugby's Every Rose Strategy says it aims to have 100,000 females playing the game by 2027, with 40,000 registered in 2021.
Figures from Sport England found that in England, the number of women playing rugby has jumped from 25,000 to 40,000 between 2017 and 2022.
Laura Arrowsmith plays for March Bears, which formed a women’s team last year:
“I think we’ve always thought maybe it isn’t a ladies’ sport but regardless of fitness or if you haven’t done it before, we’re trying to encourage that it’s a great sport to get into,” she said.
“It’s great to watch and go ‘I do that’ or probably more the case of ‘I should do that’.
“It’s great to see the men’s and women’s game and how it progresses.”
'More opportunities' needed to help develop women's grassroots game
England, who were losing finalists in 2019 to South Africa, played Argentina in their opening World Cup Pool D game before they take on Japan on Sunday.
And the national women’s team, who were World Cup runners-up themselves when they lost to New Zealand last year, are hosting the 2025 edition of the tournament.
But at grassroots level, Arrowsmith thinks it’s more than just what happens on the pitch that will help grow the game.
“I think it’s about (having) more opportunities for women to come and have a go; it’s more about being part of a team, but hopefully with the World Cup, it can bring that buzz and interest to the game,” she added.
“It’s about friendships and we’re just trying to instil that culture.
“If any of our nations do well, it always gives a buzz about the game, people become interested and hopefully that will reflect in getting more numbers on the pitch.”
England’s Rugby World Cup fixtures:
September 17 – Japan: Stade de Nice – 8pm
September 23 - Chile: Stade Pierre-Mauroy – 4.45pm
October 7 - Samoa: Stade Pierre-Mauroy – 4.45pm