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Latest News
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 min read
Dubai Emirates Airline Rugby Sevens 2021 - Men's
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Perfection, not silverware, the focus for South Africa and Selvyn Davids

We caught up with the Blitzboks star, who has helped guide his side to the top of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings as the countdown continues to their home Rugby World Cup Sevens.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 5 April, 2022
3 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
Women in Rugby
Tuesday 08 March, 2022
4 min read

How the World Rugby Women’s Executive Leadership Scholarship helps to support female leaders

On International Women’s Day we take a look at some of the past Scholarship recipients and their achievements.
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On Tuesday, World Rugby will again celebrate International Women’s Day with the expansion of its Women’s Executive Leadership Scholarship programme.

Designed to help its recipients break into the boardroom, the Scholarship has also grown into a global network that is helping female leaders to thrive and grow in rugby.

Past recipients have gone on to fill governance roles at a local, national and regional level and the knowledge gained along the way has been passed down to those who have come after them.

“When we get together internationally, I have a tendency to sit back in awe a little bit,” 2021 recipient Annabel Kehoe told World Rugby recently.

A sport for everyone ❤️#IWD2022 pic.twitter.com/uLgrDO3joy

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) March 8, 2022

“There are a lot of people doing some fantastic work in their home nations or regions.”

Nahid Biyarjomandi is one of those women. In January the 2021 recipient, who was also part of World Rugby’s ‘Try And Stop Us’ campaign three years ago, was appointed unanimously as chair of the Asia Rugby Gender Equity Committee.

Iran Rugby board member Biyarjomandi was recommended for the role by her predecessor Ada Milby, the World Rugby Council member who was part of the inaugural Scholarship programme in 2018.

“It’s been an honour to see the growth of women’s rugby year on year in Asia and see some big milestones achieved with constitutional changes, record number of Union Presidents who are female and a strong network of women all passionate about growing the game in their communities,” Milby said.

“I’m excited to pass the torch to Nahid who will continue to lead the Gender Equity Committee forward, exploring more ways to remove barriers to make rugby more accessible to all.”

Elsewhere in Asia, 2021 recipient Sarah Abd Elbaki continues to break down barriers for female rugby players, referees, coaches and administrators in Syria.

Viengsamai Souksavanh, who joined the programme a year earlier, meanwhile, is currently CEO of the Lao Rugby Federation and is working towards “making the environment better” for women and girls who want to play the game in the country.

“A mix of wonderful ideas and people”

In Africa, Maha Zaoui – who received the Scholarship in 2018 – was appointed Women’s Rugby Manager at Rugby Africa two years later and has used the role to help unearth a new generation of female leaders.

Zaoui and Rugby Africa launched a new Sports Management Training Programme last September, an online course designed to drive women’s rugby development projects on the ground in participating nations.

“The idea is that if everyone works in their union, women's rugby in Africa can grow together,” Zaoui told World Rugby at the time.

Peris Mukoko, part of the 2021 Scholarship intake, has been grateful for the support of Zaoui, who guided the Kenyan through the application process while she adapted to parenthood.

Mukoko has been inspired by the work and achievements of the previous recipients to such an extent that she launched a campaign to become vice-chair of the Kenya Rugby Union.

She said: “The networks actually help because you're able to get… if it's not a mentor, it's someone cheering you on. If it's not someone cheering you on, it's someone who's working with you.

“If it's not someone working with you, it's someone who has the same challenges that we're facing in Kenya [and asking:] ‘But how best can you actually manoeuvre through that?’

“So, the women in leadership network is actually a mix of wonderful ideas and people that I'm borrowing heavily from as well.”

Global network

Such stories continue across the world. When Fijiana won an historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games last July, one of the team’s unsung heroes was a 2019 Scholarship recipient.

Team manager Vela Naucukidi had confidently told World Rugby prior to leaving for Japan that Fiji’s “plan is to reach the podium” and so it proved as the team became their country’s first ever female medallists at the Games.

Five years previously at the Games in Rio, Marjorie Enya worked as Services Manager for Rugby Sevens.

Enya was then one of the inaugural Scholarship recipients in 2018 and her career in administration has since soared, becoming a Confederação Brasileira de Rugby board member and representing Sudamérica Rugby on the World Rugby Council.

“I’ve seen what rugby can do to women for women,” Enya told World Rugby in 2018. “I’ve seen the level of confidence, of solidarity, of friendship and loyalty, all that kind of stuff. I had never seen anything like it before rugby.”

In Europe, 2021 recipient Rebecca Davies created history when she was co-opted onto the Rugby Football Union Council, and the 51-year-old recently returned to the pitch as a referee.

“I decided to challenge myself and find out if I could still do the job and also to try and help answer the desperate call to recruit more match officials,” Davies said.

“The reward was the smiling faces of the players and coaches who entered into the spirit of the game and just let the rugby happen…we had fun!”

Former Canada international and 2018 recipient Dr Araba Chintoh, meanwhile, was named chair of World Rugby’s Women’s Player Welfare Steering Group last November.

The network provided by the Scholarship has been a great source of support and inspiration for Chintoh.

She said: “We get together, quarterly on Zoom calls, and we share experiences, we share our own personal projects, and we hear what's happening around the world – we are literally around the world.

“So, that community has bolstered me in terms of knowing that if I help to make a decision about something, it's actually going to impact my friend in Iran, or Laos, or Austria.

“The scholarship has provided me with a global community in rugby as well as given me access and authority to lead.”

READ MORE: Annabel Kehoe driven to achieve “something special” through rugby >>

Trending News Show all
2018 Commonwealth Games women's final
3 min read

Commonwealth Games

All the build-up to rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games 2022

Now that the line-ups are complete in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, we take a look at who has won gold in the past and the sides competing to add their names to the roll call of honour in July.

Commonwealth Games

Wed 11 May, 2022
3 min read
Madagascar qualify for rugby world cup sevens
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Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Discipline and hard work at the heart of Madagascar's success on the road to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

The Madagascar women's sevens team has achieved their historic dream of qualifying for a Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament for the first time. At the heart of this achievement lies a lot of hard work, determination and discipline.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Wed 11 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Seven women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series players to watch in Toulouse

Following an exciting weekend in Langford we look at seven women’s stars who could light up Toulouse between 20-22 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 5 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
7 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia clinch overall 2022 series title while late Lily Dick try gives them Cup win in Langford

Hosts Canada took fifth place while Ireland flyer Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe bagged 12 tries as they won bronze in the HSBC Canada Sevens in Langford.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Mon 2 May, 2022
7 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
5 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia edge towards HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series glory in Langford as New Zealand provide thrills on return

Australia are closing in on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title after a perfect start to the penultimate event of the season in Canada, while the Black Ferns came back with a bang at the Starlight Stadium.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Sun 1 May, 2022
5 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Captains on top of the world ahead of the HSBC Canada Women's Sevens in Langford

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to the home of Rugby Canada after a 1,083 day break as Australia look to clinch their first Series title since to 2018.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fri 29 April, 2022
3 min read
Santiago Gómez Cora
5 min read

rugby sevens

Santiago Gómez Cora: “You have to be patient, trust a lot and do the hard work”

World Rugby caught up with Los Pumas Sevens coach about Argentina’s recent win in the HSBC Canada Sevens and what it means to him going forward.

rugby sevens

Thu 28 April, 2022
5 min read
Charlotte Caslick
3 min read

HSBC Sevens Series

Series title within Australia’s reach as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Langford

We spoke to Australia co-captain Charlotte Caslick about her team's mindset heading into this weekend's HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series stop in Langford knowing they can wrap up the series title.

HSBC Sevens Series

Wed 27 April, 2022
3 min read
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