subject: Women's Rugby League [print this page] There is uncertainty about the actual origination of the rugby game because there are so many different forms of football and rugby that have been played by so many different cultures throughout history. Some believe rugby dates back to ancient Greece where this sport was played by males for leisure.
Historians have documented rugbys origination as a form of football primarily played by middle and upper class young men in English schools dating back to the 19th century. In contrast, today rugby is viewed as a sport for the working class and is enjoyed by both males and females.
Although rugby, like most other contact sports, was organized as a sport for males, there is evidence dating back as early as 1887 in Ireland of female participation in the sport. The first evidence of a female only game dates back to 1891 in New Zealand when the game was cancelled due to an outcry from the public due to the physical nature of the sport.
As a result, women rugby teams and games were often secretive in nature until the 1920s. Womens rugby games in the United States can be traced back to the 1970s to three collegiate teams: Colorado State University, University of Colorado, and University of Illinois.
In 2000, the Women's Rugby League was established as the governing body for the female-only version of the game. The league was started in conjunction with the first Women's Rugby League World Cup where New Zealand took home the gold. While participation in the Women's Rugby League is more predominant in Australia, France, Great Britain and New Zealand, American leagues for women have been on the rise over the past decade. During this time, the U.S. Womens Rugby League has evolved and now offers a high school division, two collegiate divisions, and a national team program. Today women's rugby leagues and clubs can be found in almost every state at the college and amateur levels. There are six officials divisions for women's rugby competing domestically and across the world. Women's Rugby Leagues are one of the fastest growing organizations in the United States today providing women with equal opportunities to participate in sports at the state, national, and international level.
