Oceania Rugby Leaders Unite for Women's Game Development
The Impact Beyond Pasifika Summit brought together rugby leaders to enhance women's participation in Oceania's rugby scene.
Recently, Sydney played host to the Impact Beyond Pasifika Women & Girls’ Rugby Summit, a vital gathering for rugby leaders from across Oceania. This three-day event aimed to bolster collaboration, leadership, and opportunities for women and girls within the rugby community in the region.
Collaboration Focused on Growth
Organized by World Rugby in partnership with Oceania Rugby and backed by the Australian Government's PacificAus Sports programme, the summit was held at the New South Wales Rugby Union venue. It welcomed 33 representatives from 15 member unions of World Rugby and Oceania Rugby, emphasizing the importance of unified efforts to enhance women's rugby.
Broadening Perspectives on Women’s Rugby
This summit marked the fifth installment in World Rugby’s Impact Beyond series, following successful events in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. Providing a platform for unions to share insights and strategies, discussions focused on practical ways to expand the participation of women and girls in rugby, particularly within the Pacific context.
Interactive Workshops and Key Initiatives
Throughout the event, participants engaged in a series of interactive workshops that covered several crucial areas of development. This included maximizing visibility for women's rugby, evaluating impact, content creation, and fostering sustainable player pathways. Attendees also explored how initiatives such as Get Into Rugby Plus and various Sport-for-Development programs can open opportunities for women and girls both on and off the field.
The summit concluded with a formal reception that allowed attendees to reflect on the discussions from the week. This memorable evening featured a keynote address from Dame Farah Palmer, a World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee, council member, and former captain of the Black Ferns.
As a highlight, participants had the opportunity to attend the WXV Global Series match, where the Wallaroos faced Scotland Women at the Accor Stadium. This provided a unique chance to witness the growth of women's rugby at a competitive level.
Strategic Outcomes for Future Growth
A significant outcome of the summit was the establishment of specific priorities and action plans tailored for each union, ensuring that the conversations had throughout the summit could lead to tangible advancements in the region.
Sally Horrox, World Rugby’s Chief of Women’s Rugby, commented on the enormous potential within the Pacific to cultivate women's and girls’ rugby. She expressed optimism that gatherings like this summit are vital for sharing experiences, strengthening partnerships, and highlighting collaboration opportunities, all crucial for realizing this potential.
Looking ahead, with Rugby World Cups set to take place in Australia in 2027 and 2029, there lies a remarkable opportunity to create a lasting legacy for the sport. Initiatives like the Impact Beyond Pasifika Summit are instrumental in translating this vision into meaningful action that will benefit future generations of rugby players.