Does women's rugby need more male allies?
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It’s a question which comes up time and time again. As soon as another incident of discrimination or inequality happens in the women’s game, the question flares up and reignites in my head. Does women’s rugby need more support from men’s players?
I’m talking about the men’s professional players who have been supported throughout their careers, on player pathways from an early age, through academies, up to the highest level, with all the coaching, physio and S&C support they could possibly wish for, who (for the most part) make a decent living. Do they have a duty to help the wider rugby community, to speak up for those in less fortunate positions?
My argument would be, yes of course they do.
Just to be clear, this article isn’t a dig at men who play the game at the elite level, who work as hard as anyone else. It’s a discussion around whether the women’s game needs their support (100% yes) and whether or not men’s players actively support the women’s game and if not, then why?
Let me ask you this: If you saw something out of order in your line of work, would you stand up and point it out, support the victim(s), criticize your employer, even if it didn’t directly involve or impact you? What if this wrongdoing went against your values as a person? Or stank of injustice or inequality?
In the rugby world, it appears this doesn’t happen.
I say this as history has shown that the majority of males during their playing careers do not engage with issues in the women’s game, full stop.
Take the recent incident for example, when Connacht Women’s changing facilities were located by a dumpster at Energia Park, with reports of rats running around, ahead of their televised interpro clash with Ulster. To my knowledge not one Connacht Men’s player in the days after personally came out to publicly comment or show any reaction.
Or for instance, in the wake of the #IAmEnough movement (after Ireland Rugby and Canterbury used models to promote the launch of their women’s jersey rather than members of Ireland’s own women’s team), it was eerily quiet on the social media channels of men’s players yet again.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE ??
2 Jersey Launches
3 Models
3 International Players
3 Profiles lifted
1 HUGE Opportunity Missed
By not using the female players to market THEIR OWN KIT an opportunity to build recognition, fan bases & creating role models for future generations is lost. pic.twitter.com/TM75AH5rKr— Florence Williams (@FlorenceW94) August 22, 2020
And ask yourself, how much public support have former Wales players campaigning to the WRU to reinstate the women’s elite performance pathways had from former or current Wales Men’s players? From asking around and researching online it appears not a lot. This doesn’t mean that the players aren’t fully backing the petition privately but in a world where public pressure seems to be the best way of influencing and getting results, in a scenario where change doesn’t appear to be happening through the current means, could you not lend a hand with a tweet of encouragement?
I understand you may not want to outwardly criticise your employer, but for an issue so obviously affecting the game in your country, when Wales Women have not won a game in two years, how can they be silent?
I’m not trying to paint all male players with a wide brush stroke, I’m merely pointing out that the majority just don’t engage.
Worcester Warriors player Stef Evans and founder of the #ICare social media campaign, (launched after negative comments arose online about apparently no one caring that the 2021 Women’s Six Nations was being postponed) suggested a reason for this: “The silence that we so often feel from the men, it’s easy to think they don’t care but I feel like the vast majority of silence comes from them half not knowing that it’s happening (discrimination) and the other half thinking that it’s not their place or they don’t know how to communicate their support.
“The experiences I had from launching the #ICare campaign meant that I found myself having a lot of conversations with men’s players who became aware of the campaign and expressed support to me, and a lot did so publicly, but some chose to tell me privately.
“When I asked some of them why they’d DM’ed me instead of posting support publicly, they said they weren’t sure if it was their place to say anything, which makes a lot of sense. One told me he knew we didn’t need validation from the men and didn’t want it to come across like that, and he’s correct on that, but I think there’s a way that male players can support us publicly that doesn’t come across like that.
“The vast majority of the male players that I know and I’ve met in my career have been incredibly supportive and seem to have a lot of respect for the game we play, but I don’t think that always gets communicated to the wider community in a public way.”
Perhaps players may be more comfortable with wading into an argument or topic of discussion when they’re retired and not tied to clubs or when the topic at hand applies more directly to them, such as when they have young daughters or sport playing spouses.
Take for example Johnny Sexton’s reply to questions around Connacht’s interpro incident (commenting only when prompted by journalists), he said: “I’ve got two young daughters that I hope will be involved in sport as they grow older and I hope that they’ll be looked after as I have been throughout my career.” With the classic get-out-of-jail comment “I don’t know the ins and outs” added on.
I assume he’s referring to the ins and outs of the particular situation he’s being asked about but I actually find this a wholly lazy response. Look at the bigger picture! If players really want to make a difference and create change for future generations, especially when their own daughters may be impacted, if I had a platform and influence as large as his, perhaps one could suggest he learn the “ins and outs” if we are to see improved treatment of women and girls in the sport in his country.
There seems to be a common trend that players tend to think more deeply and interact more when they have something at stake. But how can we get men’s players more emotionally involved, invested, and engaged with issues within the women’s game regardless of their family situation?
Evans gave her experiences as a player. “One of the reasons could be, a lot of women’s and men’s teams from the same club play at different locations, they don’t overlap training times and do not share the same facilities. This happens a lot in union, even internationally.
“We need to encourage men to be more aware of other areas that’s affecting rugby and to not be afraid to speak out and use their voices and platforms to draw attention to issues.
“They could publicise when a women’s match is, or let it be known that they themselves watch and enjoy the women’s game. Perhaps they don’t realise but men’s players have a completely different audience and reach than players like I do.”
Victoria Rush, Content Producer at O2 and founder of women’s rugby’s #IAmEnough movement said: “For men’s players, the hurdles in rugby aren’t the same. They often have a more linier path from school to their clubs and up to pro level and then for England. There are very few rugby hurdles there, so they can’t emphasise with the barriers in front of women’s players.
“They’ll look at things from their own perceptive, you can only work off your own experiences. You don’t know unless you’ve been through it. On social media we’re good at blaming and I don’t blame them, players aren’t given any opportunity to understand, perhaps because women’s clubs aren’t telling them.”
So, does it lie with the women’s teams to educate the men and make them aware of their struggles?
Rush believes change can come through placing more pressure on clubs and brands. “We need to make it a non-negotiable that clubs and brands promote the women and men’s game equally. There’s really simple things male players and clubs can do for the game such as promotion on social media.
“For example, Danny Care shared information about Harlequins Women’s Premier 15s Final against Saracens last season, which was an enormous step to help promote the game and cost him nothing. Paolo Odogwu gave over his Instagram account to England 7s and Wasps player Meg Jones for International Women’s Day last year. It’s really simple things but helps bring home the message that women play the sport too and helps to normalise it.”
While we’re on the topic of good examples of support, credit to former Ireland and current London Irish player Sean O’Brien for his recent show of support to the Ireland women’s team after they missed out on World Cup qualification.
It would break your heart looking at the Irish women’s team after that defeat! The effort and sacrifice they make is incredible and I think it’s very fair to say not enough is done for them!!the powers to be need to do more IMO!
— Sean O'Brien (@SeanOBrien1987) September 25, 2021
Or Joe Marler’s recent tweet calling out the archaic views of former football referee Mark Clattenburg on talkSPORT after he commented about female officials finding the career path of refereeing difficult due to having children.
Jesus Christ – Clattenburg’s response to my question about female referees in football on @talkSPORT this morning was disrespectful and archaic – @SaraCoxRef leading the way with the way the world should be.
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) September 30, 2021
This type of support show camaraderie, costs nothing and is what I believe the game needs to see more of.
You might ask what difference this showing of support makes?
It may be depressing to hear that incidents such as the changing facilities at the interprovincial championships are not uncommon or unfamiliar to even international women’s players, which make you think that decision makers in key roles, whether they’re not the exact same person making each decision each time, all likely think the same- prioritize the men’s, think about the women second. Whether they’re actively aware of their bias or not is another matter.
But what the men’s players seem to not understand, is the influence they could have on decision makers by speaking up. A tweet, a comment on Instagram, a quick word to a journalist- their followers will soon pick it up, as will the wider media and it will get shared with a different and almost certainly wider audience. Awareness builds pressure. When it’s someone different beating the drum, the noise sounds different.
Perhaps it’s naïve to think that the odd tweet from a well-known men’s player would make a difference but if the siren of support for the women’s game rang loudly enough and the approach changed en masse perhaps at least then we might see the tide turning.
Perhaps it’s a case of mentioning in a team talk or at the captain’s run that the women’s team is playing at the weekend, with no obligation to act but just to place it in players’ minds, in their subconscious, the least it would do is increase awareness. We don’t just want lip service, we want players actually invested but increasing their awareness is a start. You can’t be part of the solution unless you know the problem.
In my opinion the above suggestion would need to come from someone already invested in the women’s game, in a position of knowledge and influence at a club- an ally to the women’s game.
As frustrating as it is, it’s not a blame game. It appears the onus could be on women’s clubs to find that male ally, to help educate and inform the men’s sides. We need more symbiosis between teams at the same club to get awareness out there and although coverage is increasing through wider media outlets, we need to gorge out a better communication channel with the men playing the game if we want to see change. Some clubs are already better at this than others, Bristol Bears seem to have a good thing going on this front.
I’m sure supporters, coaches, players and all who are involved in the women’s game would agree, when an incident crops up highlighting just how far we have to go to catch up with the men’s game, to not hear the deafening silence we’ve become accustomed to in the aftermath, would be a big step forward.
If inequality or injustice happened in your line of work, how would you react, would you speak up?
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
3 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments