Wales Women’s players have been trialling a ground-breaking new app, designed to help players and coaches better understand and report pain caused by menstrual cycles. Wales take on England this Saturday, in round three of the 2023 Women’s Six Nations, with both sides looking for their third consecutive win of the competition.
As the women’s side of rugby continues to grow with each passing year, so does the normalisation around periods within competitive sport. The Welsh women’s players are using the new Vodafone Player Connect app, as they prepare for the clash with England at Cardiff Arms Park.
Wales fly half Eli Snowsill discussed the importance of governing bodies getting involved, and increasing support for female athletes.
“Women’s sport is growing massively, you know, it’s becoming absolutely huge globally, and the majority of females have a period. So you know, and that’s happening not just a couple of times a year it’s happening every month it’s happening 12 times a year for most females.
“So it’s really important that governing bodies become aware of this and do everything they can to support their athletes through that and just increase their awareness of it.”
Snowsill then went on to talk about how the app works, and how the collected data can curate better training for the Welsh players.
“The app collects a whole lot of data from the players. From sleep tracking to mood and energy. It also collects whether we’ve got any injuries or soreness but then most importantly, it also collects our menstrual cycle, what phase we’re in and what symptoms we’re getting.
“So if a player comes in and they’ve got severe cramping or fatigue or anything like that, then the coaches and physios are aware of it already without us having to have that conversation. Because you don’t always want to go up to your head coach and tell him ‘I’m on my period I’m in a lot of pain today just you know, I might not be my best self or whatever’.
Wales Prop Cerys Hale also spoke very openly about the topic, in what is promisingly becoming the norm for this conversation. Hale talked about her experiences of training during her menstrual cycle, and her experiences as a coach with the changing direction and increased support for female players.
“Yeah, I think when I was younger, going to training while I was during my menstrual cycle was quite difficult. Especially while I was bleeding on my menstrual cycle. So, I think some sessions I would miss because of it, but I was quite lucky that my parents really encouraged me to you know, overcome that barrier.
“And I do a bit of coaching myself and often I get girls messages, I can’t make it today because I’m on my period, and it’s kind of breaking that stigma, and also giving people the tools to be able to train while they’re on their period, and use it to their advantage.”
Wales Women’s Head Coach Ioan Cunningham furthered this conversation from a coaching perspective.
“To normalise the conversation is key, regarding increase in talent, (and) growth within the game. I think to allow the players or young players to feel comfortable in the environment to speak and be open about their menstrual cycle or what phase they are in their cycle, I think is massive for us as a nation, and also as a team as we continue to grow.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, Wales Captain Hannah Jones recognises the level of competition that the Red Roses will bring. Wales see this Saturday as the ‘Big One’, and Jones has great expectations of her side ahead of the match, yet she knows the threat that England are set to bring.
“It’s always a big game playing against England, Wales v England is always the big one. Just really excited, you know, they’re going to bring their physicality, and I think this year our pack can match that.
“So we’ll be excited to see where we’re at, you know. They’re one of the best teams in the world, so, to be the best, you’ve go to play the best, you know, we’re both two from two. So it’s definitely going to be an interesting match.”