Ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, we dive into why the sport has helped so many LGBTQIA+ people
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY GETTY/ CANVA
I’m 18 years old, covered in mud and sweat, staring down my opposition across a now very trodden field. It is February, and the cold is seeping into our bones as we grit our teeth for one last push. I play number nine – the scrum half – and I’m looking for a break so that we can score a winning try. It happens in slow motion, and I’m running with the ball tucked under my arm all the way to the line. Euphoria fills me as the final whistle blows.
I feel many things, but one thought persists. God, I feel so queer.
As the Rugby Women’s World Cup (22 August – 27 September) gears up this year, thousands of eager fans are ready to see their favourite players take the pitch. While the men’s game may not be filled with LGBTQIA+ representation, the women’s game is flying the rainbow flag high.
As someone who played rugby throughout university, this is no surprise to me. On my team, we had one token straight player (who was, of course, the biggest ally you could find). I came out as bisexual long before I started playing, but it was after joining my first rugby team that I truly felt like I connected to my queerness.
For the first time in my life, I saw women of all shapes and sexual identities who were completely accepted for exactly who they were. At the pub afterwards, people would speak openly about the girls they were dating, their first crushes and queer culture. As someone who had never been in a space quite like this, it was eye-opening.
Rugby is unique as a sport in the way that it encourages people of all abilities to come onto the pitch. You can be a prop, a scrum half or on the wing, and all are equally important. With acceptance deep at its core, it’s a sport where everyone belongs – something which resonates with the LGBTQIA+ community.
It was in this space that I began to experiment with my style. I cut all my hair off, got a bunch of piercings (which I’d have to tape up before playing) and began really hitting the gym. In all of these changes, my teammates were nothing but supportive… even when I turned up to training with a Chucky-esque red bob. Heteronormative beauty standards don’t really have a place on the pitch when you’re getting covered in mud and pummelled to the ground.
There is no real way to describe how being in a team can validate your queerness. It’s an experience so akin to being in any LGBTQIA+ space. It is full of love, laughter and family. You play together, drink together and find comfort in this togetherness. So as the Women’s Rugby World Cup gets ready to blow the starting whistle, I’m ready to cheer on the queer players set to inspire a whole new generation of young people to pick up the ball and get in the scrum.
More tickets are on sale through the official Rugby World Cup 2025 ticketing site – fans are encouraged to join the celebrations and not to miss out: https://tickets.rugbyworldcup.com
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