Scottish Rugby will award professional contracts to at least 30 players following the Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand later this year. The organisation also plans to invest in two semi-pro teams.
This forms part of Women & Girls’ Strategy 2022-2026 to develop and grow the game at all levels over the next four years as Scottish Rugby targets opportunities women’s rugby presents having previously identified it as one of three strategic priorities for the 2021-2024 period.
Built on the incredible work that has gone on in the club and international game over the last three decades by the pioneers of women’s rugby, the 2022-2026 Women & Girls’ Strategy is designed to grow participation and representation in rugby on and off the pitch and increase the visibility of women’s rugby nationwide.
The focus of the strategy is around four P’s; Participation, Pathway, Pipeline and Performance. These key areas are underpinned by a holistic approach which is needed to develop the women and girl’s game across the board to create long term growth and sustainability.
Scottish Rugby will invest in seven strategic priority areas that will impact across the four P’s. These are; ‘Empowering leadership’, ‘Positive introduction to rugby’, ‘Playing pathway for all’, ‘Building capacity in our clubs’, ‘Developing the future of performance rugby’, ‘A winning Scotland’ and ‘Let them see what they can be’.
These building blocks focus on growing the game on the field and the infrastructure off the field but also encompass the enabling factors that allow Scottish Rugby to sustainably develop the sport. They recognise the importance of visibility, commercialisation, and investment as underpinning factors vital for the future of the game.
Last year Scottish Rugby invested £1.6m directly into the women and girls’ game.
In endorsing the strategy, the Scottish Rugby Board has agreed to an additional investment of up to £2.5m covering the first year of the strategy which will be invested in all areas of the pathway taking the total women and girls’ funding to £4.1m, more than double the previous year’s allocation.
Head of Women and Girls’ Strategy, Gemma Fay said: “This is an extremely exciting time to be involved in women and girl’s rugby and I feel privileged to have been able to work with a fantastic group of people, both within Scottish Rugby and within rugby in Scotland, who are equally excited by the opportunities we see in front of us.
“This strategy will enable us to channel the passion, enthusiasm and interest that there is for the game within Scotland and ultimately grow the sport. We will focus on connecting all aspects of what it takes to develop a sustainable, thriving game to ensure that we support our clubs to build capacity, establish a clear pathway for our players and people and ensure Scotland Women are supported to be successful on the international stage.
“Rugby is a game for all and it is important that we provide a pathway that is for all, whether that is in a Scotland shirt or simply have an enjoyable experience on and off the field at their respective level.
“We want to harness the current momentum we have seen post-pandemic in the women’s game and create long lasting, transformational change, allowing women and girl’s rugby to define its own unique identity within the rugby landscape in Scotland.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved in women and girl’s rugby in Scotland who contributed to the consultation period which gave us an excellent insight into the direction of travel the strategy should take and many creative and innovative ideas to be developed.”
To read the Strategy Summary document, click here.
Photo 1 Caption: Scottish Rugby makes big statement as it announces ambitious four-year plan to change the face of women’s rugby in Scotland, including the introduction of pro contracts and a pathway to ensure long terms growth and sustainability. Photo: Scottish Rugby (website)
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