The History of Women's rugby

The first serious participation in occurred during the 1970's. Feminism had broken down many barriers and female university students were able to identifiy new, previously disregarded, sporting oppertunites. Taking up rugby was a natural step for sporting women, who wanted to explore new physical and mental challenges. This occured simultaneously in the British Isles, Europe and North America.

The French were far in advance of other nations when they formed their offical governing body in 1970. American students, who were particularly athletic also took the opportunity seriously in the early years. The game spread like wild fire around the world, reputedly the fastest growing sport where ever it took off.

There are 81 Nations with registered girls or women's teams.

1891 - Reports of a team of female rugby players wanting to tour around New Zeland. Public outcry causes their tour to be canceled .

1908 - Early reports of women's rugby being played in France

1925 - La Barette, a French game similar to touch rugby, played in Paris

1930 - Reports of the game in Australia - in the New South Wales areas of Tamworth and Armidale untill halted by World War II.

1956 - The Belle's of St Mary's - an Australian team play rugby (league) in New South Wales.

1960 - Reports, that following efforts to play, women's rugby is banned in Samoa as it is seen to conflict with the national culture.

1962 - A team of women players is know to be representing Edingburgh University.

1963 - Female students participated in matches against male students in London.

1965 - The formation of two serious sides in France for a charity match. Reports of other matches in France.

1966 - Charity matches in the UK, such as that played between Worthing rugby club and 30 female supporters. Male v female matches will later be outlawed by the Women's Rugby Football Union.

1970 - Formation of Association Francaise de Rugby Feminin (AFRF) in Toulouse, France. There must have been a significant interest in the game for a governing body and a competition to be formed.

1972 - Four Universities in the USA play the game:

1973 - AFRF approach the French Federation de Rugby (FFR) with a request to be officially recognised. They were not recognised for a further 10 years.

1975 - University students in the Netherlands start to play the game.

1979 - First Italian club team formed in Milan. Game first played in Spain.

1980 - France dominates the game during the 80's. First official national club championship held in USA. First provincal match held in Newzeland.

1981 - First games played in Japan

1982 - First ever women's international rugby match. France v Netherlands assistant coach, recalls that the French were very organised, having already established their own federation and competition. The Netherlands also had a league of ten teams at the time. No-one realised that they were making history.

1983 - Inter-provincial competition starts in western Canada. Women's Rugby Football Union (WRFU) formaed to govern the game across the British Isles. Founder member clubs are: Leicester Polytechnic, Sheffield University, University College London, University of Keel, Warwick University, Imperial College, Leeds University, Magor Maidens, York University and Loughborough University. Official status given to Spanish women's rugby by the Catalan Federation.

1984 - League Nazionale Rugby Feminile formed in Italy and the first national championships are held. Jim Greenwood (former Scotland and Britosh Isles player) coaches a Loughborough University side that includes many important British players such as Liza Burgess, Karen Almond and, later the Mitchell twins.

1986 - First International for British Isles players. Great Britain v France at Richmond Athletic Park. France won 14 - 8.

1987 - Quebec joins Canadian competition to make it a national tournament. Canadian Rugby Board accept a women's vice president onto their committee. First international match between Canada and an American XV in British Columbia, which begins the Can-Am competition, USA win 22 - 3. First international matches for England and Wales. They play each other at Pontypool Park in a match won by England 22 - 4. WRFU National League final held at Twickeham - the first women to play a competitive match on hallowed turf.

1988 - Japanese Women's Rugby Football Union formed. First cup final held in the UK, Wasps beat Richmond 34 - 6 at Rosslyn Park.

1989 - FFRF is formely intergrated in to the Federation Francaise de Rugby (FFR)

1990 - First Irish club teams formed. 'Rugbyfest' held in Christchurch, New Zealand. The first large international gathering of teams (both clubs and national sides) from around the world. The USA side become the 'Eagles' and play officially under this title and for USA Rugby for the first time.

1991 - Rugby World Cup held in Cardiff, Wales - USA beat England 19 - 6 in the final. Wales, USA, England, France, Canada, Sweden, USSR, Japan, Spain Italy, New Zealand, and the Netherlands take part. For some sides the tournament is the occasion of their first international match. - Criticism of New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRFU) for not supporting their women's team, who made it to the semi-finals. However there is still a strong 'cultural cringe' surronding women's rugby in New Zealand. - Four England administrators re-mortgage their houses to cover their expenses of attending the competition. - Netherlands Rugby Union take women under their wing. - Spain hold their first national competition. - Women's rugby revived in Australia by Wal Fitzgerald in Newcastle, New South Wales.

1992 - Irish women split for the WRFU to form their own Irish Women's Rugby Union. The New Zealand women are taken under the umbrella of the NZRFU.

1993 - First Irish international match - a defeat to Scotland in Edinburgh. Scottish women split from the WRFU to be governed by a sub-committee of the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) to become the Scottish Women's Rugby Union. Australian Women's Rugby Union formed. Inaugural Canada Cup competition held in Toronto between Canada, USA, England and Wales.Won by England.

1994 - Rugby World Cup held in Edinburgh, Scotland. England beat the USA in the final 38 - 23.The Netherlands are due to host the competition but fail to do so following complications relating to the official status of the competiton i th eyes if of the International Rugby Board. USA, England, France , Canada, Sweden, Russia, Spain, Wales, Japan, Scotland, Ireland, Kazakhstan and Scottish Students (replacing Spain who withdraw) take part. Many nations fail to attend because of confusion over their affiliation status with their respective national govering bodies. The WRFU dispand so that Wales and England can go their seperate ways. The Rugby Football Union for Women is formed in England and the Welsh Women's Rugby Union affiliates with the Welsh Rugby Union. New Zealand rebuild their team and beat Australia 37 - 0 in Australia's first international match.

1995 - IWRFU officially recognised by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU).

1996 - New Zealand shock everyone by destroying the USA 109 - 0, France and Canada with their newly refined side, at the Canada Cup. - First official Home Nations competition held between England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

1997 - First Hong Kong Sevens tournament for women.

1998 - First official IRB - sanctioned 'Rugby World Cup' tournament held in Amsterdam, Neatherlands.

        - New Zealand beat USA, 44 - 12 in the final

        - Canada, Netherlands, England, Sweden, USA, Russia Federation, Spain, Wales, France, Kazakhstan, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, Scotland and Italy take part.

        - New Zealand drop the name 'Gal Blacks' and replace it with 'Black Ferns' during the tournament. The Black Fern is the female version of the silver fern used by the men. They conceded only 32 points in the entire competition and scored 344. Their multi phase play proves to sophisticated for the other nations.

        - Scotland beat England for the first time in the Home Nations Championship.

1999 - First Five Nations Competition : England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France

2000 - IWRFU affiliate fully with the IRFU

        - First International matches for Somoa - firstly in Hong Kong Sevens tournament then in a match against Japan.

        - South African women affiliate with South African men.

2001 - 'Blacks Ferns' 27 - match winning streak halted by England 22 - 17 in Albany during England's tour to New Zealand and Australia

2002 - France win the first SIx Nations competition.

        - First women's match ever held at Murrayfield, Scotland (Scotland v Sweden)

        - Rugby World Cup held in Barcelona, Spain

        - New Zealand beat England 19 - 9 in the final. First apperance in the world cup for Somoa.

        - Retirement of many renowned women's players: Liza Burgess (Wales), Gill Burns (England), Emma Mitchell (England), Nathalie Amiel (France), Josee Lacasse (Cananda), Monique Hirovanaa (New Zealand).

2003 - Black Ferns play a World XV over two matches. Both games won by Black Ferns.

        - First ever international match held at Twickenham, England v France. England win and go on to a Six Nations 'Grand Slam'.

2006 - Rugby World Cup held in Edmonton, Canada. Opening match on 31st August is Canada v New Zealand (host v champions).

        - Final held on 17th September. New Zealand v England