Barnes Rugby Club celebrated 20 years of its women’s side earlier this month while increased media attention on the game has led to an uptake in memberships.
The club, which marked two decades of female participation on 3 May, has a flourishing first and second team and competes in the South East championship year-round.
For members, Barnes offers them a chance to try something new, stay active, and become part of their local rugby community.
BWRFC member Livia Branga said: “I’ve been able to grow confidence in my game which I didn’t have before. The girls are so supportive and we have each other’s backs, so you feel confident enough to try different things.
“We’re seeing more men starting to watch women’s rugby as well, which is amazing, and it’s benefiting us all because we’re all part of women’s rugby.”
Women’s rugby has grown at a significant rate over the past five years, with Sport England estimating that as many as 15,000 girls have begun playing since 2019.
With England’s success at the Six Nations earlier this year, as well as the upcoming home World Cup, young girls are becoming increasingly exposed to the sport as a result of new broadcasting deals that televise the growth of the game, with Barnes one such example.
Join the discussion