Rising Stars of Rugby: Women’s Teams Flourish Across Asia

Women’s rugby is booming and is receiving intense coverage in countries like the Philippines and Thailand. The sport is going through a monumental time on and off the continent. Recently Japan and Thailand have developed their own national women’s rugby teams. This positive development means that in many Asian markets, the popularity and competitiveness of the game has skyrocketed. Western teams continue to lead the global women’s rugby competition standings. One thing is for certain: Asian players are producing in a big way on the international stage and making their presence known.

The incredible growth of women’s rugby in Asia is best seen through the hard work put in by national teams. Japan has had a significant impact, making tremendous strides in building their women’s rugby program. Today, the field is filled with homegrown talent competing at global and collegiate levels. Thailand has fielded their own national quality rugby team. It is now gaining momentum and starting to be accepted and recognised within the rugby community. All of these developments signal a promising age for women’s rugby in Asia. Countries throughout the region are making great efforts to raise their profile on the international stage.

Excluded from the men’s game for over a century, the sport itself has a storied history, with women playing rugby for about 130 years. The 2016 Rio Olympics were a big moment for women’s rugby. It made its world debut in the world’s greatest sporting event, and the sport truly took flight. This milestone became a high point for women’s rugby. It gave athletes a platform to share their creativity, athleticism and love for basketball. Women’s rugby made its Olympic debut, further increasing the profile of the sport. This wonderful addition has prompted thousands of young female athletes throughout Asia to pursue rugby.

The gap remains wide, with Asian sides ranked well below their Western counterparts in the world rankings. The landscape of women’s rugby, both domestically and abroad, is slowly changing. More and better players are finally being acknowledged for their talent and skill, which is helping create an ever-deepening competitive environment. This breakthrough impacts women’s rugby and motivates further countries in the region to channel resources into women’s rugby initiatives. They’re prioritizing coaching and other resources to improve play on the field.