Women’s Professional Rugby Explained – Leagues, World Cup & Major Competitions

Women’s rugby has grown rapidly over the past two decades, becoming one of the fastest-expanding sports in the world. With professional leagues, international tournaments, and record-breaking crowds, the women’s game is reaching new levels of popularity and professionalism.

Today, competitions such as the Premiership Women’s Rugby and the Women’s Rugby World Cup showcase the very best players in the sport.

This guide explains how women’s professional rugby works, the major competitions, and the future of the women’s game.

The Growth of Women’s Rugby

Women have played rugby for over a century, but the sport began expanding rapidly in the late 20th century as more national federations invested in the women’s game.

Key milestones include:

  • The first Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991
  • Increased international competitions in the 2000s
  • The rise of professional leagues in the 2010s and 2020s
  • Record attendances at major tournaments

Many national teams now operate fully professional training environments, helping the sport reach higher performance standards than ever before.

Premiership Women’s Rugby (England)

One of the leading domestic leagues in the world is Premiership Women’s Rugby.

Previously known as Premier 15s, it represents the highest level of women’s club rugby in England.

Key Facts

  • Top division of women’s rugby union in England
  • Fully professional environment for many players
  • Features some of the best international players in the world
  • Organised by the Rugby Football Union

Notable Clubs

Some of the strongest teams in the competition include:

  • Saracens Women
  • Harlequins Women
  • Gloucester-Hartpury Women
  • Exeter Chiefs Women

The league has helped develop many international players who represent England and other countries in major tournaments.

Women’s Rugby World Cup

The biggest tournament in women’s rugby is the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Held every four years, it determines the world champion of women’s rugby union.

Major Facts

  • First tournament held in 1991
  • Organised by World Rugby
  • Features the best international teams in the world
  • One of the fastest growing global sporting events

Most Successful Teams

Historically, two teams have dominated the tournament:

  • New Zealand women’s national rugby union team
  • England women’s national rugby union team

New Zealand’s Black Ferns have won the competition multiple times and are widely considered the most successful women’s rugby team in history.

Women’s Six Nations

The Women’s Six Nations Championship is Europe’s biggest women’s rugby competition.

Each year six nations compete:

  • England
  • France
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Scotland
  • Wales

The tournament has grown significantly in popularity, with increasing TV coverage and record crowds.

Other Major Women’s Rugby Competitions

Women’s rugby now features several important international competitions.

WXV Global Tournament

The WXV was introduced by World Rugby to create a global annual tournament structure.

The competition includes three divisions:

  • WXV 1 – Top international teams
  • WXV 2 – Emerging rugby nations
  • WXV 3 – Developing teams

This format helps grow the women’s game worldwide.

Rugby Sevens

Women’s rugby sevens is also hugely popular and is part of the Olympic Games.

The World Rugby Sevens Series features national teams competing across multiple tournaments around the world.

Sevens rugby has helped increase participation and visibility for women’s rugby globally.

Famous Players in Women’s Rugby

The women’s game has produced many legendary players.

Some of the most famous include:

  • Portia Woodman
  • Maggie Alphonsi
  • Emily Scarratt
  • Sarah Hunter

These players have helped raise the profile of women’s rugby and inspire the next generation of athletes.

The Future of Women’s Rugby

Women’s rugby is currently experiencing huge growth worldwide.

Important developments include:

  • Increased professional contracts for players
  • Greater television coverage
  • Record-breaking attendances
  • Expanded global competitions

The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup is expected to attract the largest audience in the history of the women’s game.

Why Women’s Rugby Is Growing So Quickly

Several factors have helped drive the growth of women’s rugby:

  • Increased investment from national unions
  • Professional leagues such as Premiership Women’s Rugby
  • Global tournaments like WXV
  • Greater media exposure

These developments are helping the sport reach new audiences and inspire young players across the world.

Summary

Women’s professional rugby has grown dramatically in recent years, with major competitions including the Premiership Women’s Rugby league, the Women’s Rugby World Cup, and the Women’s Six Nations Championship. With increased professionalism and global tournaments, the women’s game continues to expand and attract new fans around the world.