World Rugby wants to feminise its governance and that of its national federations. The body has announced that it has decided to join forces with a working group dedicated to the development of women’s sport, the International Working Group On Women and Sport. The two parties will work together until 2026, with the aim of encouraging sports leaders around the world to support the movement for gender equality in sport. World Rugby will send up to 50 women leaders to the 8th IWG World Conference on Women and Sport. It will take place from 14 to 17 November 2022 in Auckland, following the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand (8 October to 12 November). World Rugby and the International Working Group On Women and Sport have also committed to working together over the next four years, starting in November, to “raise awareness of the need for change and action across the sport system“. In particular, the two parties will work together to identify speakers and panellists for the Women in Rugby events at the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and the 8th IWG World Conference on Women and Sport. In addition, World Rugby will host the IWG leadership at the World Cup Final on 12 November in Auckland. At the end of 2022, the strategic relationship will be relocated to the UK, the next host country for the IWG Secretariat and the 2022-2026 World Conference, ahead of the 2025 Women’s World Cup in England.
