BW Voices: A place for every 'body' in women's rugby

The advisor for men's and women's rugby at Baldwin Wallace University, Christine Varga, writes about the growing popularity and inclusivity of a sport that's welcoming to all sizes and shapes.

If you follow women's sports, you might know a very big rugby tournament took place in England this summer. The Women's Rugby World Cup broke attendance and broadcast records with the USA vs England opening match, held at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. A total of 42,723 fans attended, with over 2.4 million viewers tuning in across the world to watch some of the biggest names in rugby, including Ilona Maher (USA), who made her Rugby World Cup (RWC) debut.

Maher, a 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medalist and 2025 Best Breakthrough Athlete ESPY Award winner, is a social media sensation creating a platform emphasizing body positivity and strength. She is an inspiration to women and girls across the globe, highlighting the incredible capabilities of women's bodies in sport.

I had the opportunity to travel to England during the RWC and witness the powerful messaging strong women like Maher are spreading through their sport. The game is growing for women and girls, and the common theme is inclusion. In rugby, every "body" has a place on the roster. It doesn't matter what you look like; there's a spot on the pitch for all sizes and shapes, and that is part of the beauty of the sport.

Growing at BW and Beyond

My time in England was spent with the National Collegiate Rugby Women's All-American High-Performance Team, photographing the athletes, coaches, and support staff, contributing to the growth of rugby through media and storytelling. The players spent two weeks on tour in Newcastle, training with top coaches, competing against England select side teams, and supporting USA vs England, where they had the honor of being the flag bearers for the opening ceremony.

Rugby is bigger than you may realize and is growing. Local talent is all around. Baldwin Wallace University Women's Rugby finished as runners-up at Division III Nationals this spring. The Brunswick Valkyries won the Ohio state championship. Local talent is playing on the National Team and in high-level pathway rugby through opportunities like Women's Elite Rugby (WER). Everywhere, women and girls are leading their teams to championships.

How to support rugby

You can make a difference in the growth of rugby.

• Watch — You'll see the power women have to make a difference as athletes, coaches, referees, and support staff.
  
  
• Support — Learn the game, buy the ticket, purchase the merchandise, attend fundraisers, subscribe to The Rugby Breakdown, and engage on social media.
  
  
• Join — Rookie Rugby Ohio provides opportunities for girls in Pre-K through middle school. Rugby Ohio supports club and varsity teams for high schoolers. Most rugby athletes don't start playing until college. Join your university's team or start one through the Try-Rugby Program, National Collegiate Rugby's Emerging Teams Grants.
  
  
• Encourage — Women can start playing rugby at any age with zero background in the sport or athletic history. Northeast Ohio is home to several senior teams. Cleveland Rugby Coalition, Cleveland Iron Maidens, Akron Rugby Club, and Canton Rugby welcome new players.
  
  
• Get Involved — Coach, referee, take photos, or help teams market the fun, inclusive sport of rugby.

If you are interested in learning more about rugby at BW, you can reach out to Christine by emailing ccancian@bw.edu

A version of this column first appeared on cleveland.com and in The Sun News.