?As we celebrate Women's Month, we should also reflect on the strides our women rugby players are making and the different challenges they face. Only through collective effort and unwavering dedication can we build a future where women's rugby not only thrives as a symbol of progress and equality but is also recognised, celebrated, cherished, and fiercely defended. This is the view of Dr Jocelyn Solomons from the Department of Exercise, Sport & Lifestyle Medicine in an opinion piece for the Cape Times.
Jocelyn Solomons*
As we celebrate Women's Month, we should also reflect on the strides our women rugby players are making and the different challenges they face. Recent achievements, such as the Women Boks winning their third Rugby Africa Women's Cup and the Springbok Women's Sevens team finishing in 11th place at the Paris Olympics, are commendable achievements.
Over the past seven years, we've witnessed remarkable growth and international development of the sport, signalling a major shift towards recognising women's voices on the global stage. While this is laudable, there is still a pressing need for continued progress, especially in women's rugby in South Africa.
The ongoing, and somewhat unfair, comparisons of women rugby players to their male counterparts, like the Blitzboks who won the bronze medal in Paris, highlight a need for deeper recognition and support for women's rugby. These comparisons also reflect an outdated societal ideology deeply rooted in Apartheid's legacy, particularly in perceptions of gender roles and sports traditionally dominated by men, like rugby. No wonder the pace of transformation in women's rugby in South Africa remains slow.
My recent doctoral study at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 explored stakeholders' perceptions on the status of women's rugby development in the country. It examined the sport's complexities and identified key barriers and facilitators by focusing on 1) our country's historical, socio-economic, and cultural context, 2) the coach-athlete relationship and 3) effective coaching.
The study highlights a concerning reality: while the recent growth of women's rugby symbolises progress beyond the legacy of Apartheid, outdated gender roles and cultural ideologies continue to persist. This raises a critical question: if players' own families struggle to fully support their rugby pursuits, how can we expect the country to embrace and invest in the sport? We must recognise and address both the subtle and overt ways in which society contributes to this problem. It's evident in the many comments that compare male and female teams, the structuring of gyms where weight training is geared toward men and cardio or circuit areas toward women, and in the conscious choice to skip watching a women's match as a precursor to the men's game.
These ingrained biases are further exacerbated by the role of the media in shaping public narratives. Men's players are frequently asked about their statistics and physical preparation, whereas women's players are often questioned about their personal journeys and emotional responses to match outcomes. This disparity not only influences public perception, but also reinforces the unequal financial support for women's rugby. To truly advance the sport, we must confront these biases head-on and foster a more equitable environment that respects and values women's contributions on and off the rugby field.
My research also sheds light on the coach-athlete relationship, which is crucial for player development and performance. The role of a coach extends beyond the training field. Coaches are thrown in the deep end and do more than what is expected of them on the field; whether that means organising transport to and from training or ensuring that a player receives the necessary aid following an injury. Players who participated in my study mentioned that positive coach-athlete relationships are characterised by shared goals, emotional bonding, and similar values. Recommendations include providing constructive feedback, adapting coaching strategies to match the learning styles of players, and acknowledging gender differences where appropriate. These findings, while perhaps familiar within the context of men's rugby, underscore critical considerations for developing coaching frameworks that are tailored to the complexities and challenges of women's rugby. Additionally, the study delved into effective coaching strategies, as articulated by coaches and players, emphasising the importance of clear communication, practical and theoretical breakdowns of the game's technical aspects, and gender-conscious interactions. Players appreciate values-based coaching, simplicity and positive reinforcement.
Another reason why women's rugby plays second fiddle to the men's game is because many female players are introduced to rugby at a late stage — often in high school or university — or come from different sporting backgrounds. The reality for these players is stark: they undergo a few months of training camps and intensive preparation before being expected to perform exceptionally against top rugby nations.
Coaches, in turn, are burdened with the dual responsibility of fostering both development and high performance simultaneously. This raises a critical question: who are we setting up for failure? There is a need to rethink coach education and development to better support the coaches but also help the transition of players to be able to face experienced nations like England, Ireland, and New Zealand. To ensure the sustainability of women's rugby in South Africa, stakeholders should examine the existing player and coach development models. Are they truly meeting the needs of the coaches and players? What more can be done to advance coach education and development?
The findings of my study underscore the need for introspection on our roles as a society and stakeholders in women's rugby, especially in confronting and dismantling persistent outdated ideologies. Addressing these challenges demands a fundamental shift in how we perceive and promote women's rugby — including dismantling entrenched gender stereotypes in every aspect of life and ensuring fair media representation to elevate the sport's visibility and credibility. Improving coaching practices and developing tailored coaching programmes are also vital for long-term success. We need a sustained commitment to inclusivity, reflected in tangible actions, not just words to advance South African women's rugby. Stakeholders should move beyond short-term celebrations and focus on creating lasting change.
This research serves as a roadmap, urging all involved — coaches, players, administrators, and supporters — to actively break down barriers, invest in the game and comprehensive development, and support women's rugby with the same enthusiasm and resources as the men's game. Only through collective effort and unwavering dedication can we build a future where women's rugby not only thrives as a symbol of progress and equality but is also recognised, celebrated, cherished, and fiercely defended.
*Dr Jocelyn Solomons is a junior lecturer in the Department of Exercise, Sport & Lifestyle Medicine at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU), specialising in women's sports, especially women's rugby. This article is based, in part, on her recent doctorate in Sport Science at SU.?
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