World Rugby and ChildFund Rugby Set For Next Phase of the Grassroots to Global Forums

World Rugby and ChildFund Rugby’s global mission to unite and uplift female leaders in rugby on the road to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 evolves around the series of Grassroots to Global Forums which is designed to accelerate the global development of women’s rugby.

The first Grassroots to Global Forums recently were held at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver in October 2024 in conjunction with the women’s 15s tournament, WXV 1 which took place at the same venue. Gallagher High Performance Academy masterclasses are held in collaboration with Grassroots to Global.

ChildFund Rugby will announce more than 30 Grassroots to Global Forums over the next nine months in the lead-up to England 2025. The programme provides a powerful platform for female coaches, players and leaders to drive social change and increase the number of females involved in the sport, both on and off the field.

ChildFund Rugby’s Deputy Director Megan Knight said, “Grassroots to Global shows what’s possible when we empower girls and women in rugby. The initiative reveals both the challenges they face – from financial barriers to discrimination – and what keeps them engaged: especially the vital role of female coaches and community role models. By building a connected network of driven leaders across the women’s game, we’re creating the foundation for rugby’s more equitable future.”

Via LinkedIn ChildFund Rugby added that they can’t wait to hear from women in community rugby leadership about advancing women’s coaching as the Series unfolds and confirmed the next Grassroots to Global Madagascar is with Malagasy Rugby.

They also said they are still seeking partners for the Grassroots to Global Series and interested parties can get in touch.

What Are The Grassroots to Global Forums

A major finding from the previous Grassroots to Global series was that female coaches are a key driver in increasing female participation in rugby so the 2025 series, will focus on expanding female coaching opportunities at the community level.

ChildFund Rugby’s Grassroots to Global Series and the Gallagher High-Performance Academy “focus on grassroots and elite coaching development respectively, with the combined goal of advancing female representation in rugby.”

The Grassroots to Global Forum unite 30-35 emerging female leaders from community rugby, selected by their respective Unions said World Rugby. At the Foums, they will exchange ideas and create action plans for enhancing gender inclusion within their rugby communities.

Participants engage in Leadership Journey Mapping, to enable them to identify the key drivers and barriers they face in rugby leadership.

World Rugby Chief of Women’s Rugby Sally Horrox said: “It’s fantastic to see ChildFund Rugby’s Grassroots to Global series announce over 30 more forums as we enter this crucial period in the lead-up to the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.”

Horrox added, “To grow the game of rugby, we need more women in leadership roles both on and off the pitch. It’s great to have ChildFund Rugby and Gallagher onboard who share a common goal to recruit more girls and women into coaching from the grassroots community level right the way through to the elite end of the game, through training, coaching, and mentoring.”

Gallagher High Performance Academy (GHPA)

The GHPA) is a “fully immersive global development and leadership programme that’s enhancing the prominence of female coaches, and increasing the competitiveness of the women’s game”, said World Rugby.

The High Performance Academy was founded by World Rugby and Gallagher with a focus on talent identification, professional support and championing the next generation of international coaches. Since 2023, 37 female coaches have been supported by the GHPA.

Chief Marketing Officer Christopher Mead added, “The most recent GHPA Masterclass was a collaboration with ChildFund to bring new opportunities to young women who were looking to expand their presence in training and in the game. By providing a platform for female coaches to thrive, the GHPA is contributing to the advancement of women in rugby and setting the stage for a more diverse future in the sport on the international stage and at the grassroots level.”

Both ChildFund Rugby’s Grassroots to Global Forums and the GHPA work in conjunction towards the common goal of getting more girls and women into rugby coaching. The programme’s focus on grassroots ties in with the GHPA’s focus on the development of elite coaches, ensuring opportunities for women at all levels of the game.

• The Academy develops existing coaching talent.
• Identifies opportunities for new coaches and women in other high-performance roles.
• The aim is to have 40 per cent female coaches at England RWC 2025.

Rugby Development News

• World Rugby Launches Impact Beyond 2025 Global Impact Programme.
• ChildFund Rugby Confirm Additional Ambassadors.
• Gallagher was announced as the official partner of Women’s Rugby, WXV and RWC 2025.
• Gallagher High Performance Academy 2024 Female Coaches Announced.