"Safer Tackling" - 5 things Men's Rugby can learn from the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup

There’s a lot of differences between the men’s and women’s games, but differences aren’t all bad. There are a few things, though, that have been a catalyst for the success of the Women’s World Cup that could prove as some healthy targets for men’s rugby to catch up to in some aspects.

While women and girls are actually at a higher risk of concussion from rugby-related injuries, a key difference in the women’s and men’s game is the number of HIAs (Head Injury Assessments). In the first six matches of this year's tournament, there was only one, compared with seven in the first six games of the men’s 2019 RWC.

Leaders in the field believe these stats stem from a different approach to play. Dr Martin Raftery, World Rugby’s deputy chief medical officer said, “maybe what’s happening is because they [women] are evolving in the sport, the focus has gone back to the basics of the game - passing, tackling.”

There’s a significant lack in research around the risks of rugby-based concussions for women, having often been left out of the research. However, this is steadily beginning to change in more recent years. During the World Cup, all teams had access to smart mouth-guards to measure impact of tackles through vibrations which will provide more insight into a field with a large gender data gap.

It’s not popular with every rugby fan, but it’s done wonders for the women’s game and there’s a lot to be said for its place in the men’s game too. It’s not all TikTok dances and trends though, a huge reason the women’s game has emerged so brilliantly this year is because of the personalities within the teams, and how they captivate the fans both on and off the field.

The replication of those personalities won’t be a carbon copy into the men’s teams, obviously. But it’s the behind the scenes footage, the camaraderie that we see shared, with the likes of England stars Sarah Bern and Mo Hunt sharing the inside story across social media. It’s the difference in accessibility of these players that has since shot them to success.

Rather than solely brand made content, the players use their own channels, host their own podcasts to showcase themselves as players, and individuals. The relatability draws in casual fans, and then it’s the game that keeps them interested.

A key difference in the way a lot of men’s and women’s rugby is played, is that during the women’s game, there tends to be less of a focus on kicking. That’s not to say the women don’t kick, they do, with the likes of France and Canada being prolific back-field bombardiers. But more generally, the games aren’t tied up with long kicks back and forth like a 30-player game of tennis.

Another observation that isn’t necessarily backed up by a lot of stats, but comes from having watched both the men's and women's games in great depth, is that there’s an urgency about women’s rugby that the men don’t seem to possess so much. There’s very little time wasting, they just want to get on with it and keep the ball in play for as much time as possible.

This really leans into the faster playing style that hooks new and casual fans, something that could propel the men’s game to a new audience.

It isn’t just the social media growth that’s impacting the change in the game off-pitch. It’s the way the fans engage with it. Partially shaped by this new way of interacting and seeing the players, the fans have an all access pass to get to know their idols.

It’s in the way the players stay behind after games to talk to crowds, sign autographs, and pose for pictures with fans. There’s an atmosphere that’s been created that welcomes and encourages, not gate-keeping against those new fans who know nothing about the sport. There’s a much more relaxed feeling around women’s rugby, it’s based on authentic connection between players and fans and extends during and after matches.

There’s no arguing that men’s rugby isn’t already mainstream. But still, not everyone in the sporting world watches or engages with it. The 2025 Women’s RWC has catapulted not just women’s rugby, but rugby generally, to a whole new audience that perhaps wouldn’t have otherwise considered switching on a rugby match, and men’s rugby has to capitalize on it now.

Almost a third of fans who attended this year's world cup matches had never been to a rugby match before, but 90% of all attendees said they want to come back. The lasting impact the tournament has had on viewership and interest retention is stratospheric. This evolution, often something men’s rugby resists, is something to lean into. It really is only up from here, for everyone.