ABSTRACT

This is the first book to introduce key themes in the study of women’s rugby from multi-disciplinary perspectives, including history, sociology, gender studies, sport development and sport science.

Featuring contributions from leading researchers and former international players from across Canada, England, France, New Zealand and the USA, the book opens with a global history of women’s rugby, locating the game in the wider context of the development of women’s sport and exploring important social issues such as race, gender and violence. The book then looks at training and performance analysis at pitch level, helping the reader get a sense of the game from the ground up, before focusing on women’s rugby through the eyes of others (such as rugby coaches), women’s experiences of rugby’s culture and promotional culture.

This is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in women’s sport, rugby, sport and social issues, sport development, or sport history.

part I|41 pages

Women on the rugby pitch

chapter 1|12 pages

A brief history of women in rugby union

ByLydia J. Furse

chapter 2|13 pages

The development of women’s rugby in the US

A challenging climb
ByLaura F. Chase, Sarah K. Fields

chapter 3|14 pages

Whiteness and gendered violence on the rugby pitch

ByAnima Adjepong

part II|45 pages

Women’s rugby and performance

chapter 4|14 pages

Training women’s rugby union and sevens

Not a simple copy-paste of men’s practices
ByAnthony Couderc, Franck Brocherie

chapter 5|15 pages

Collective efficiency and performance in women’s rugby sevens

ByGuillaume Saulière, Quentin DeLarochelambert, Adrien Sedeaud

chapter 6|14 pages

Evolution of social cohesion within a national rugby union team

ByHelene Joncheray, Renaud Laporte, Pauline Maillot

part III|41 pages

Women’s rugby through the eyes of others

chapter 7|10 pages

The journey of a women’s rugby coach

Passing through capillarity
BySébastien Dalgalarrondo

chapter 8|15 pages

Women’s experiences of rugby culture in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Naked women talk about sport
ByAmy Wallace, Steve Jackson, Marcelle C. Dawson

chapter 9|14 pages

Beer, promotional culture and women’s rugby

Guinness’ “Liberty Fields”
BySarah Gee