Rugby Africa Launches Campaign to Empower Women in Rugby
In preparation for the upcoming 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, Rugby Africa has unveiled the “Her Strength, Her Impact, Our Dream” campaign. This initiative aims to shine a spotlight on women in rugby across the continent and celebrate their achievements. The campaign features a series of documentary-style videos highlighting Africa’s “Impact Champions,” 12 delegates from various African countries who are making significant contributions to the women’s rugby scene.
According to the United Nations, only 26.9% of executive positions in international sport federations are held by women, and girls are more likely to drop out of sports at a young age compared to boys. To address these challenges and promote gender equality in sports leadership, Rugby Africa is focusing on increasing visibility for women in rugby.
The “Her Strength, Her Impact, Our Dream” campaign showcases the personal and professional journeys of the Impact Champions, including standout players, coaches, and leaders who are paving the way for the future of women’s rugby in Africa. Through a series of bi-weekly videos, the campaign delves into the achievements, challenges, and misconceptions surrounding women’s rugby in the region.
One of the Impact Champions, Ikbel Ouji from the Tunisia Rugby Federation, highlighted the prejudice and inequality that women face in sports, stating, “I notice that there is a prejudice against women whatever they do. They are never considered at the same level as men.”
The campaign also features prominent figures in the world of rugby, such as Sally Horrox, Paula Lanco, Mel Wright, Coralie Van Den Berg, Maha Zaoui, Ninette Kruyt, and Dame Katherine Grainger, who are all working towards promoting women’s rugby and breaking stereotypes in the sport.
As part of World Rugby’s Impact Beyond 2025 Programme, the 12 Impact Champions will receive support for career development and will have the opportunity to attend the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. This initiative demonstrates World Rugby’s and Rugby Africa’s commitment to fostering the growth of women’s rugby in Africa.
The “Her Strength, Her Impact, Our Dream” campaign is divided into five segments, including a teaser for the Rugby World Cup, personal insights from the Impact Champions, discussions on values learned through rugby, challenging stereotypes in women’s sports, and celebrating career highlights of female athletes and leaders.
Through this campaign, Rugby Africa aims to engage global audiences, celebrate achievements in women’s rugby, and create opportunities for growth and empowerment. Fans can follow the campaign on Rugby Africa’s official social media platforms to stay updated on the latest developments.
The 12 Impact Champions from Africa who are part of this campaign include individuals from Tunisia, Madagascar, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and South Africa, all of whom are making significant contributions to the women’s rugby scene in their respective countries.
Overall, the “Her Strength, Her Impact, Our Dream” campaign is a step towards promoting gender equality in sports leadership and empowering women in rugby across Africa. Fans are encouraged to follow Rugby Africa on social media to show their support for this important initiative.
