Rugby Celebrating International Women’s Day 2021 in Asia

March 8, 2021, is International Women’s Day and many rugby unions and organisations in Asia are taking the opportunity to rightfully celebrate the positive impact of women in the sport and development. We take a look at how Rugby is celebrating women in Asia for the 2021 International Women’s Day.

A number of social media hashtags accompany the IWD 2021 in the Asian rugby community, including:

• #Choosetochange
• #IWD2021
• #Unstoppables
• #TryandStopUs

International Women’s Day 2021 in Asia

Singapore Rugby Union – IWD 2021

The SRU are holding the SRU Women’s Rugby Development Webinar 2021 on March 8 at 7PM.  The free webinar will have special women guests discuss Rugby Development.

The special guests confirmed are:

• Ada Milby – Rugby player and administrator –  the first female member of the World Rugby Council, and Asia Rugby, as well as Executive Committee Member and the President of Philippines Rugby.
• Kendra Cocksedge – Member of the New Zealand Black Ferns for over 14 years. Previous World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year, Scrumhalf in World Rugby’s Team of the Decade and two-time Rugby World Cup champion (15s) and Sevens Rugby World Cup.
• Mrinalini Venkatachalam – Regional Director for South-East Asia and Oceania at WEConnect International.

You can register your interest via the event page.

Image Credit: Singapore Rugby Union

International Women’s Day 2021 – Philippines Rugby Football Union

The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) is hosting an Instagram Live session on International Women’s Day.

Philippine Women’s Rugby will celebrate a decade of relived HERstory with a series of live interviews hosted by PRFU President and World Rugby Council Member, Ada Milby (she has a busy day!).

The PRFU said: “Today, we celebrate all the amazing women involved in our great game! From our players, coaches, match officials, physios, medics, educators, administrators, mothers, daughters, sisters, partners, and aunts. Thank you so much for being part of our rugby family. Happy International Women’s Day to all!”

ChildFund Sport For Development – ChildFund Rugby

ChildFund Sport For Development and ChildFund Rugby have posted an International Women’s Day video of their appreciation for their female heroes.

They said online: “Today, we celebrate International Women’s Day! We #ChoosetoChallenge gender stereotypes and our partnerships commit to providing equitable spaces for women to reach their full potential! Did you know, more than 50% of our participants are girls and young women!”

The video can be seen here.

Khelo Rugby – India International Women’s Day

To celebrate International Women’s Day, the Khelo Rugby Community Coaches organised tournaments in Bangalore, Saraswatipur and Jarmundi.

More than 200 girls played rugby organised by more than 50 of the rugby development coaches. They said, “The future will be made by these dynamic young women.”

To celebrate International Women's Day our Community Coaches organised tournaments in Bangalore, Saraswatipur and Jarmundi. More than 200 girls played rugby all organised by more than 50 of our coaches.
The future will be made by these dynamic young women.#InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/6mlCRjc3d8

— Khelo Rugby by Future Hope (@KheloRugby) March 8, 2021

Hong Kong Scottish – Girls in Sport

The Hong Kong Scottish RFC are running an initiative in March 2021 by the Hong Kong Scottish Kukris, and Flying Kukris on “empowering women through sports. Sometimes sport is just a try, a goal, a PB, a 3-pointer, a summit…Sometimes it is much much more.”

They will be running online webinars “hear the tales of the highs, lows and everything in-between of women (and men supporting women) in sport.”

• Wednesday 10th March 7 PM (Hong Kong time) – Topic: Doing sport, the physical and the mental. Language: English
• Date and time TBC – Topic: Girls in Sport: A local perspective. Language: Cantonese.

Image Credit: Hong Kong Scottish RFC

A number of other Asian Rugby Unions have posted their support of initiatives around IWD 2021.

World Rugby posted an article acknowledging six women around the globe who have been instrumental for the sport going global, especially in women’s rugby. They identified Noriko Kishida from Japan- founding member of the Japan Women’s Rugby Football Union in 1988.

Asian Rugby Interviews

• Ada Milby – Growing the women’s rugby game.
• Ben Gollings – Coaching Rugby in Asia.
• Karina Soerjanatamihardja: Growth of Women’s Rugby in Indonesia.
• Acee San Juan: Shining the light on women’s rugby in Asia