5 Reasons Why Girls Should Play Rugby

When you tell someone you play rugby you immediately hear "that is a brutal sport" or "those guys are toughest on earth" and some may have even uttered..

"I would never let my daughter play rugby"

I wish I had rugby at a young age because other sports require a certain body type or skill set but in rugby all are welcome.

I mean let’s face it we have all seen those YouTube videos on hardest hits and you may have even seen T-shirts saying "Give Blood. Play Rugby" so that certainly doesn't help. The sport has changed over the years but let's take a look at the other side of the sport that is not talked as much. The Fox Valley Predator Rugby Club is going to share with you our top 5 reasons why girls should play rugby. Quotes throughout this article are provided by our women's side the The Fox Valley Vixens.

1. They learn the importance of hard work

Rugby games are long! 80 minutes on the field total with 40 minute halves. At the younger level it is shortened to 40 min total but once a player is out on the field there is no quick subbing and they must continue to perform for the team. Learning to play rugby means learning how to work hard, and to always give 110%. If you're not giving it everything you've got, you will not make the first ten minutes.

Whether it's one more pass, one more line-out, or one more ruck, rugby players are used to doing just one more.
I have watched many matches that are won in the last minute. It's a lesson we all learn playing rugby and to work hard means your going to last the whole game.

2. Promotes Equality

Rugby is a contact sport...for everyone! The boys are expected to tackle and so are the girls there is no special treatment. Watch a Women’s match on TV and you will see how hard they can hit and how much they can put in. There are no special rules for girls and they will learn at any early age that they can do anything boys can do.

Think about how that can be applied in their life as they grow, if they are working just as hard as a man in a workplace situation you bet a girl rugger will be asking for the same pay or treatment since they will learn to believe at a young age that gender does not matter.

There is a sense of pride of being able to play a sport just like the guys. Of being seen just as strong and tough.

Rugby is a sport where no matter your skill set whether being fast or strong you are valuable on the pitch.

3. She will feel the incredible feeling of being part of a team.

Being on a women’s team you make friends that transcend into family. They aren’t just there for you on the field but in everyday life we build each other up.

I wish I had rugby at a young age because other sports sometimes require a certain body type and skill set and in rugby all skill sets and body types are welcome.

This speaks to the rugby culture as all are welcome we do not discourage anyone from playing because there is a position for everyone on the team.

Rugby makes you feel like you’re a part of something even when you don’t play all the time. There is never a time when you feel like you are not a part of the team and don’t fit in.

4. She will realize she is unstoppable

Girls go through life being told they can't do something. Rugby will help them realize they are unstoppable. When you tackle someone bigger and taller you will realize you can do anything!

Girls are strong, powerful and can push through when it gets hard. In that last minute when it all counts and your body is telling you there is no more in the tank but your mind is telling you one more or you want it so bad. That is the moment you will realize how capable you are and how unstoppable you can be.

5. How to Get Back Up When You’ve Been Taken Down

We pulled this directly from a Vixen who wrote an article on The Odyssey Online and we will let her words speak for this...

It happens very often, being taken down. Sometimes it hurts to get back up after a tackle especially when it’s cold or rainy or both. But the need and desire to get up and keep playing for team motivates me to get up. A lot of times when you’re sore and hurting and it’s rainy, adrenaline to get up keeps me going. Seeing teammates keep getting up and running back into another tackle is motivating.

If you made it to the bottom of this article we know this speaks to you and you can relate or you have a daughter or girl in mind that could benefit from playing rugby. The Fox Valley Rugby Club has instruction for the youth through HS, a Women's Club and Men's Club. Learn more today!