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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to think that this is sex discrimination?

85 replies

SignoraStronza · 18/01/2018 20:26

I was idly chatting to a coach/friend at DD's rugby club, who mentioned that a local private school is going to be going into her (future) secondary comp to offer additional sports coaching. What's in it for them? Apparently one of the reasons is that they're looking to cream off some of the sporting talent and offer scholarships - fair enough i suppose.

DD overheard this, sounded rather enthusiastic about the idea and so I idly had a look at the sports scholarship application form on the school's website.

Only BOYS could apply for Rugby (and cricket) scholarships, but all could apply for hockey athletics, tennis, golf and swimming.
A bit shit really. DD lives and breathes rugby. She's currently training with both the girls U13s and mini U11 teams up to three times a week, really enjoys it and has found her 'thing'. So to have her bubble burst because of archaic ideas that rugby is for boys made her rather crestfallen.

She absolutely plays a blinder in and against U11 teams consisting of all boys + her, and has come up against some rather crappy opinions from one of the dads already, even though she's a actually rather bloody good.

Would you mention this to the schools involved?

I love the way that private schools can maintain a charitable status and continue to be discriminatory.

OP posts:
takeitandleaveit · 18/01/2018 20:28

Absolutely mention it. That is disgraceful and definitely sex discrimination.

Jaygee61 · 18/01/2018 20:29

YANBU. I’d have loved a chance to play rugby when I was at school in the 70s.

Julie8008 · 18/01/2018 20:31

Does the private school actually offer girls rugby and cricket? Maybe they dont.

Original poster
SignoraStronza · 18/01/2018 20:33

Parents of children who go to mixed fee paying schools - is this normal that only the boys play rugby? I'm intrigued. If this is the case in three bog standard comp she'll more than likely end up going to in September, I'm fully expecting her to stage a revolution!

OP posts:
TinWhistleTunes · 18/01/2018 20:34

I have no idea, and am only posting so that I can watch this thread.

As a teenager, I wanted to be a carpenter. I know this doesn't sound like a blazing ambition, but I loved the idea. Only the boys at school got to study carpentry, I was stuck with home economics. These days I am a single mum; I have a drill/saw etc and am not afraid to use them. I do diy for lots of my female friends.

YouTube can help me with carpentry. ...

Not sure women's rugby is going to take off any time soon. ... even though this isn't fair or right, maybe your dd is better off not chasing a dream that won't come to pass. ..

So difficult, isn't it?

DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops · 18/01/2018 20:35

Does the school have rugby in place for girls already? They can't offer a scholarship for something that doesn't as yet exist.

StylishMummy · 18/01/2018 20:37

Unfortunately I've never come across a private school where girls play rugby or any contact sports.
Girls = hockey/netball
Boys = cricket/rugby

Original poster
SignoraStronza · 18/01/2018 20:38

Julie8008 Why wouldn't they? What makes rugby a game for boys only? I don't think testicles are requirement of the game. England has a cracking womens team and DD knows some incredibly inspirational youth internationals.
I think it's totally wrong and discriminatory that any school would only let boys play rugby.

OP posts:
JacquesHammer · 18/01/2018 20:40

Parents of children who go to mixed fee paying schools - is this normal that only the boys play rugby?

I coach rugby at my daughter's school. I coach both boys and girls.

Not sure women's rugby is going to take off any time soon

It's a growing sport for sure

Ginger1982 · 18/01/2018 20:41

I went to a private school. The boys played rugby and the girls played hockey.

JacquesHammer · 18/01/2018 20:41

Oh and I took PE A-level in 1998. I wanted to do rugby so my all girls school facilitated that for ne

clarrylove · 18/01/2018 20:42

Over 11, girls and boys can't play in a mixed rugby team, so unless they have a dedicated girls team, they can't offer a scholarship. I don't think that is discrimination.

LittleLights · 18/01/2018 20:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Aspatria · 18/01/2018 20:43

I know someone who tried to get a girl rugby team together, because of their rugby mad daughter. That was abandoned because they couldn't find enough female players in the school.

It might have something to do with that.

JacquesHammer · 18/01/2018 20:44

IME there are any number of girls who want to play rugby. They're just looking for an appropriate way to do so.

Call the school OP and ask them about what changes they can make?

altiara · 18/01/2018 20:46

Girls don’t have the option of rugby at my DDs school. I’d also assume that’s why there is no scholarship for girls rugby or cricket.

missyB1 · 18/01/2018 20:48

Ds is at a private school, only the boys play rugby. Even if his school offered girls rugby there would be no other girls schools teams for them to play against.

JacquesHammer · 18/01/2018 20:48

2/3 co-ed private schools that are nearest here offer girls' rugby.

The state co-ed we've put as our second choice for DD offers girl's rugby.

BewareOfDragons · 18/01/2018 20:49

I suspect they don't have a girls rugby team, so of course they won't offer scholarships for girls for rugby.

user187656748 · 18/01/2018 20:50

They can't play mixed teams at secondary level.

At DS's school boys play rugby then hockey then cricket. Girls play netball then hockey (but not mixed) then tennis.

MrsAndyDayTheFirst · 18/01/2018 20:51

I live in a town that has a very popular woman’s rugby team. I know it’s not popular on tv and stuff (what women’s team sports are?) but didn’t realise places routinely didn’t offer it to girls. That’s pretty shitty.

Needmorehands · 18/01/2018 20:56

Women's rugby is growing, and the national team are great to aspire to. We are very lucky locally that all 4 DC (2 boys and 2 girls) are welcomed and supported at our local club, even the one with special needs. If I wasn't pg I would have joined their women's side this season. And she is likely to have more space to progress as their are fewer girls competing for the spaces. On the flip side - I bet you're doing some travelling already to get her to matches. Wishing her all the best - make sure she has SignoraStronza on the back of her shirt so we know to cheer extra loudly!

user187656748 · 18/01/2018 20:57

To be fair it isn't really 'shitty'. It is fairly niche as an interest for girls and there are only so many teachers. They therefore have to pick something that the majority will want to do and they will also be wanting to compete with other schools so will run the same sport schedule as other independents.

jwpetal · 18/01/2018 20:59

What is to stop her from apply for a rugby scholarship. Just go for it. If she is good enough, maybe? I am reading a book to my daughter right now about women in space and most of the stories are about women, who did not take no and pushed boundaries. so go for it. it may not work for her, but she will get them thinking and teaches a great life lesson, in the positive...imo

Julie8008 · 18/01/2018 21:05

Might change in the future but private schools are very traditional and there are girls activities/sports and boys activities/sports. Rugby and cricket are traditionally boys sports. Rightly or wrongly.

Parents seem to like private schools being traditional, and even if they went against the grain and got enough girls to form a team there just isn't any many other private school girls rugby teams to play against.

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