Women's rugby union
England's Lauren Cattell runs with the ball as Italy's Manuela Furlan chases, in a scene from a Women's Six Nations match | |
| Highest governing body | World Rugby |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | Rugger |
| First played | 19th century |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Full Contact |
| Team members | Fifteen |
| Type | Team sport, Outdoor |
| Equipment | Rugby ball |
Women's rugby union is a full contact team sport based on running with the ball in hand. The same laws are used in men's rugby union with the same sized pitch and same equipment. Women's rugby has become popular recently. These days, women's rugby is gaining a higher profile thanks to international tournaments' exposure and financial investment.