England’s RFU has announced it is to provide sanitary provisions to more than 500 rugby clubs nationwide for female rugby.
In a groundbreaking initiative, England Rugby is seeking to remove obstacles to participation for women and girls, and will provide sanitary provision for female players, members and visitors.
The initiative is part of Impact ’25, England Rugby’s transformational legacy programme associated with Rugby World Cup 2025, that aims to encourage more women and girls to get involved in rugby by increasing opportunities and improving experiences for female players.
As well as bringing clubs up to a minimum acceptable level of sanitary provision, the fund is also raising awareness of the importance of appropriate sanitary provision in rugby clubs and aiming to break the taboo around periods and women’s sport.
A study conducted by Women In Sport, funded by Sport England, found that seven in 10 teenage girls avoid activity when they’re on their period with 62 per cent of those citing ‘fear of leakage’.
Research also showed that providing sanitary provision in clubs was one of the top three most impactful changes for women in the game, and it was an out-and-out priority for 50 per cent of women.
Research has also revealed period poverty is a barrier to sport for girls and women and England Rugby has sought to address that issue by providing sanitary products to clubs.
As part of the initiative, more than 300 packages have already been delivered to clubs nationwide, with circa 1000 sanitary products being installed at clubs up and down the country.
In addition to this project, England Rugby has developed a revolutionary Women’s Health Toolkit to help to break down barriers to participation and fast-track cultural and behavioral change in clubs.
Both the Women’s Health Toolkit and the sanitary provisions project fall in line with England Rugby’s ‘Every Rose’ strategy, which aims to improve accessibility for women and girls across the game, with the aim of having 100,000 women and girls playing the sport by 2027.
Red Roses Captain, Marlie Packer said: “I think clubs offering these facilities just makes it more inclusive. Just the simple things of sanitary bins. I know that sounds bit stupid, but we never just used to see him in the clubs’ toilets and changing rooms, but it’s a normal thing.
“And now to see sanitary bins and products, whether that’s a sanitary towel or tampon just on the side that you can grab and use when you need, when you’ve been caught off guard. It’s a really fantastic scheme.”
Autumn Internationals: Fixtures and UK kick-off times
Saturday November 2
3.10pm – England vs New Zealand, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
5.40pm – Scotland vs Fiji, Murrayfield
Friday November 8
8.10pm – Ireland vs New Zealand, Aviva Stadium
Saturday November 9
3.10pm – England vs Australia, Twickenham
5.40pm – Italy vs Argentina, Stadio Friuli
8.10pm – France vs Japan, Stade de France
Sunday November 10
1.40pm – Wales vs Fiji, Principality Stadium
4.10pm – Scotland vs South Africa, Murrayfield
Friday November 15
8.10pm – Ireland vs Argentina, Aviva Stadium
Saturday November 16
3.10pm – Scotland vs Portugal, Murrayfield
5.40pm – England vs South Africa, Twickenham
8.10pm – France vs New Zealand, Stade de France
Sunday November 17
1.40pm – Italy vs Georgia, Stadio Luigi Ferraris
4.10pm – Wales vs Australia, Principality Stadium
Friday November 22
8.10pm – France vs Argentina, Stade de France
Saturday November 23
3.10pm – Ireland vs Fiji, Aviva Stadium
5.40pm – Wales vs South Africa, Principality Stadium
8.10pm – Italy vs New Zealand, Allianz Stadium, Turin
Sunday November 24
1.40pm – Scotland vs Australia, Murrayfield
4.10pm – England vs Japan, Twickenham
Saturday November 30
3.10pm – Ireland vs Australia, Aviva Stadium
Watch every game of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, including all three Test matches against the Wallabies, exclusively live on Sky Sports. Also stream with NOW.
