Evolution of the Women’s Game

Motivations, barriers & opportunities for

participation Summary of research by the University of the

South Pacific in partnership with Oceania Rugby & Fiji Rugby  

September 2016 

Why did we do the research?Fiji Rugby Union wants

to find new ways to welcome women and girls into the game

Why did we do the research?

The motivations of the next 10000 players will be different to the first 100 players.

Why did we do the research?

We need to know what rugby can do for the

community before we ask what the community

can do for rugby.

Process

Current players

Surveys70 rugby players, 81 cusp players, 79 gatekeepers

Literature review

Gatekeepers

Cusp players

Focus Groups

Groups

Current players Women aged 18 – 35 who play rugby at at

least a club level Cusp players

Women aged 16 – 35 who play another sport at least a

club level. Gatekeepers

Parents and teachers

What do people think about rugby

Guts, passion, strength,

rough.

Challenge, exhilarating,

tough.

It’s a smart sport. You have to know the position you

play and the techniques.

You have to be confident

enough to play the game.

The amount of strength that a person has to take those tackles when you see those tackles. I’m like, “Oh my God how strong can a person be!

When I hear the word rugby I feel

like cheering.

As soon as they [Fiji’s national teams] win, there are fireworks. Everyone in my neighbourhood cheering, and it’s such a beautiful feeling, one sport can unite

the entire nation like that.

It’s rough. You need a lot of

muscles. It’s a lesbian sport.

It’s dangerous, rough & aggressive. It’s a

men’s game.

You need to have fitness, be masculine, and it’s physical. You also need skills and talent.

10 THINGS WE LEARNT FROM THE RESEARCH

1. The best people to welcome new players are current players“Gatekeepers change as you grow up – starting with parents, changing to peers, and then to self-decisions.” Cusp Player

100% of current players got into rugby because a peer invited them to play.

100% of current players played another sport before they tried rugby.

“If you’ve got this bunch of women come in and say: ‘Ok, I am a 7s player, I play 7s. Do you want me to teach you?’ I think having the women come and give coaching would be a big boost for women.” Cusp Player

2. Coaches need to be respected, trusted community members

Players and gatekeepers look for coaches who:  Have great technical skills Are trusted by the players Are respected by their community Know how to keep the game safe  68% of cusp players say coach quality is the top reason why they choose to play or choose to stay away. 59% of gatekeepers and 59% of current players rate it in the top 5 priorities.

3. Facilities need to be safe, clean and accessible

“We use to train at [a sport ground]. When we used to train there, we shared the ground with men. One day they decided to take the whole ground without telling us, they just bumped into us and said, ‘Ok girls stay on the side while we are training.” Current player

68% of cusp players say lack of safe, clean and accessible facilities is the top reason they

don’t play rugby66% of gatekeepers they would support participation if there were safe, clean and accessible facilities

4. To be valued, rugby needs to be connected to new opportunities in other areas like education, business development and health Whatever I was

bought here for, to fulfil my purpose and to follow my passion which is

rugby.

Be selected into the Fijiana: ‘And beyond that is

bring back what I’ve learned to the girls and to

the club.

Become a better role model

especially to young players.

Be a better person to be

able to contribute in

whatever manner that’s

coming my way.

Education, employment, independence, autonomy, being a good mother.

Go back to school or start a business.

68% of gatekeepers said the most positive aspect of rugby participation is that it could lead to other opportunities and success. e.g. exposure and confidence, employment opportunities, overseas scholarships, character building

To become self-sufficient, never have

to turn around and meet someone to

have to do something for me.

5. Peers need to encourage; gatekeepers need to not discourage.

“For me, because there’s a lot of boys at home. I mean families, in-laws and cousins who always push us girls, my sisters and my cousin sisters to play, try to play rugby with the boys. Too bad the school doesn’t like organize this kind of stuff. So we just do it at home.” Cusp player

“I asked my husband if he could buy me a boot so I could play next year. The first thing he said to me was ‘No, don’t play rugby, you might become lesbian’ and I was like, ‘Excuse me, I am married and I have 2 kids. Why would I become lesbian?’”Cusp player

6. All sorts of girls and women are interested in Rugby

“If you play rugby people put in into this stereotypical box you know. It’s like you must be like this, you must have this sexual preference because you are a rugby player. You know who cares who you are, you are an individual you know like you can be a girl you can play rugby, you can have any sexual preference, what difference does it make?” Current player

Ideas:• Use no/low contact versions of rugby as entry level options. • Give individuals a chance to share their stories. • Show vision of all versions of the game e.g. Get Into Rugby, High School 7s, community 7s as well as international events

7.1 Clear and visible support from governing bodies

Creating a profile for the sport that encourages support from peers, family, public and governing bodies is in the top 5 priorities for most players.

 Current players want:1. More games (regular, consistent game schedules)2. Great coaching 3. More appropriate clothing and equipment 4. Access to medical insurance

7.2 Clear and visible support from governing bodies

There are people out there who are rallying for us, who are trying to take us to these places, but when it comes to decision makers, it’s like there is a glass ceiling there. We can only go so far until we can break through. So one of the ways we have to do it is by doing it ourselves until they realize that they have to take us seriously. Everyone should be treated the same.

So, if by chance Ben Ryan strolled into a school and said ‘I am here for a 1-hour clinic for girls’ rugby.’ Would you go? Who would not go? I would definitely. We still want the women [rugby players to participate in promotion]. If he could go in and say ‘Hey, I’ve got Kolinisau but look, these are women who play rugby and they are here with us.

FRU as a whole organization should uplift the sport. The only way to get our mothers to see that what they [rugby-playing women] are doing is right is these mothers to see that their children have good coaching, they have the facilities to give them skills and stuff.

8. Manage the risk

I like the contact and even if I got hurt how many times and my family and friends told me, “Why don’t you quit?”, I’d play. I’ll go and play again. Just getting on to the field, holding the ball and running – There’s a different type of feeling when you’re in that ground playing with your friends and you playing for each other. It’s just confidence.” Current player

Players are attracted to the physicality of

the game.

They recognize they need good coaching

and officiating to keep the game safe.

BUT

“Every sport has its dangers. I don’t think that there is a sport that can’t get dangerous. Even squash has dangers. Once you know the game properly, you are generally safe. Once you know a sport inside and out you generally safe.”Cusp player

9. Create clear ways to enter the game

1. Go to where women and girls

are gathering e.g. army, police

force,university, teachers’college, girls’ highschools, village 7s

2. Encourage current players to recruit

new players Come and try days

with clubs - opportunities, incentives and

pathways

3. Make sure coaches, officials

and administrators can

create a great experience

10. Solidarity, connection and belonging comes with being in a team

“The team work, being able to be there with your girls. You get to travel together. You know you come and see each other every day but I love that. You know the team bond you have, the training that you get to do. For instance, I was really involved in athletics. That’s just an individual thing. Being part of Rugby you are part of a bigger team. You I love that connection you have with everybody else, and the training programs you do is very different from other training programs.”Current player

66% of current players said the love of the game is they main reason they play

63% of current players said the solidarity and team bonding unique to rugby

STRONGER TOGETHER