When should girls start playing rugby and what makes a great girls rugby club?

With the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 on the horizon, excitement is building not just for the competition, but for the opportunities it opens up at grassroots level. 

Through World Rugby’s Impact Beyond 2025 plan, the focus is firmly on growing the game for women and girls, and creating a lasting legacy of participation, leadership and empowerment. But for many parents, the practical question remains: ‘is rugby right for my daughter, and how do I get her involved?’

Here, I aim to answer Mumsnet users’ most pressing questions about girls and rugby, from safety concerns and social barriers, to finding the right club for their DDs. 

How early can girls start playing rugby? 

Most rugby clubs offer age-appropriate sessions from as young as four or five years old, starting with non-contact formats like tag or touch rugby. These versions focus on developing basic movement skills, teamwork and enjoyment, and are a great way to introduce girls to the game without the worry of full-contact play. 

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Starting early has other benefits too: it helps girls to build their confidence, develop friendships and become familiar with the structure and culture of the sport before the more physical aspects are introduced.

If you’re not sure about where to begin, the best place to look is your local rugby club’s website or the RFU club finder. Council websites and community Facebook groups also list junior rugby opportunities in your area - and if not, a post on your neighbourhood’s group seeking recommendations will surely result in a few people replying. 

Is rugby safe?

Safety is, understandably, a top concern for parents, and on Mumsnet, it’s the most frequently discussed topic we see when it comes to girls playing the sport. To help, World Rugby provides free of charge online resources to improve technique and ensure girls are ready for the contact game.

Don't miss the action at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

What if my daughter feels rugby ‘isn’t for girls’? 

Gender stereotypes are still a barrier in the sport. Some girls worry that rugby isn’t ‘ladylike’, or feel that sport in general isn’t something they ‘belong’ in. Mumsnet users often cite societal pressure and poor representation as reasons why girls drop out of sport in their teens. 

As buckley1983 shares: “I definitely felt that experience of not belonging in sport as a teenager. I wonder, if I had felt like rugby was something I could have a go at, maybe I would have been kinder to my body and seen the strength in my large thighs, rather than hating them!”

Yet the growing visibility of women’s rugby on TV and social media is helping to change that. Watching role models at events like the Women’s Rugby World Cup can be incredibly powerful. As user jacqui5366 suggests: “get them watching women’s rugby on the TV and see the sheer joy in their faces!”

Good rugby clubs work hard to tackle these barriers in the sport. They use inclusive language (no ‘come on boys’ at training, for example), create strong female teams, and foster a sense of belonging for all players. 

Find tickets for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 

There are a variety of ticket options designed to suit all fans and budgets for this year’s event. Click below and take a look at how you can access tickets or ticket inclusive packages for the matches you would like to attend.

What makes a rugby club really great for girls? 

Based on what Mumsnet users recommend on our Talk boards, here’s what to look for when choosing a rugby club for your DDs: 

• Age-appropriate formats: start with tag and touch rugby, and gradually introduce contact and technique with proper training. 

• Trained, respectful coaches: coaches should know how to teach technique safely, use inclusive language, and be aware of gender-specific issues that girls face beyond the sport.

• Welcoming environment: a good club will foster team spirit, offer opportunities for social connection, and support the emotional well-being of all its players. 

• Practical facilities: clean, private changing rooms, access to toilets, and sensitivity to period concerns (e.g. dark shorts rather than white and sanitary products available in changing rooms). 

• Parental involvement: many clubs welcome parent volunteers. Some Mumsnet users say coaching with their daughter helped build a shared love of the game. 

Fluffmummy 

What about kit? 

Rugby needn’t be expensive to get started. Most clubs will provide a kit for matches and training, or run second-hand swaps for parents to pick up items for less. Essentials include: 

• Rugby boots with the appropriate studs 

• Gumshield (an essential for contact rugby)

• Comfortable training clothes (avoid white shorts for teenage girls if possible)

• A smaller rugby ball for practice at home (optional)

What causes girls to drop out of rugby? 

About 10% of Mumsnet discussions around rugby focus on why girls leave the sport, particularly around the early teenage years*. Peer pressure, social anxiety, clashes with other activities, and self-consciousness can all play a role. 

Starting young helps combat this - as girls are more likely to stick with something they’ve grown up with. Clubs can also help by offering flexible training times and understanding the pressures girls can face outside of the sport. 

When is the best time to sign up?

January tends to be the peak time for sign-ups, as families look to refresh routines or start new activities mid-season. Clubs often have taster days, and the post-Christmas lull is a good moment to encourage new habits for your DC. 

With the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 just weeks away, now is the perfect time to get involved, too! The tournament is expected to be the biggest ever, and with initiatives like Rugby Rising Play and the Impact Beyond 2025 plan already funding clubs and training coaches across the UK, there’s real momentum behind getting girls onto the pitch. 

About World Rugby

Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 will represent a generational moment for global rugby that will set new standards, welcome new fans and families to the sport and inspire a new generation of players, providing an exciting catalyst to nationwide and global rugby growth.

About the author

Rebecca Roberts is a Senior Content Editor who hails from Leeds. Here at Mumsnet, she works to bring parents content that’s designed to make life easier. As a mum of two herself, she knows all too well how important it is to find sports and extracurricular activities that her two children enjoy.

Beyond her role as an editor here at Mumsnet, Rebecca can be found balancing life as a working mum of two toddlers and when she’s not at her desk, you’ll likely find her at a local playgroup, in a nearby coffee shop, or walking the dog up and down country lanes.

*MumsGPT, January 1st - May 7th 2025