On this International Women's Day, TackleLondon is celebrating the women who give everything - on the pitch, in the classroom, and in communities across London - and what the world gains when we invest in them.
This year’s International Women’s Day carries a theme that speaks directly to everything TackleLondon stands for: Give To Gain. It’s a call rooted in generosity, collaboration, and shared progress – the idea that when we invest in others, we grow together. And nowhere is that more visible than in the world of women’s and girls’ rugby.
From the young girls lacing up boots for the first time in a school hall, to the coaches who show up every week with patience, warmth and belief – the story of women in rugby is a story of giving. And what the research, the schools and the young people themselves tell us is this: the gains are extraordinary.
A Movement Gaining Momentum
Women’s rugby has undergone a seismic shift in the past decade. In England alone, the number of registered female players has grown from around 25,000 in 2017 to over 40,000 by 2023 – a rise of 60% in six years. The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, hosted across England, generated 147 million television viewing hours – more than four times the record set at the previous tournament – and delivered a £294.7 million economic impact to host cities.
Globally, over 50 World Rugby member unions have now committed to growing women’s and girls’ participation by 50% before the next World Cup. The momentum is undeniable. But at TackleLondon, we know that the most important gains don’t always show up in broadcast figures. They show up in a teenager who finally feels like they belong.
In TackleLondon’s Term 1 2025 impact data, something striking emerged: across our school sessions, coaches reported consistent growth in confidence, emotional regulation and self-belief – and these gains were seen in girls as much as boys, often more.
Girls who had been described by teachers as withdrawn, disengaged, or difficult to reach were stepping forward. Taking space. Communicating. Leading. Rugby, with its demands for collective trust and physical courage, was doing something that other spaces hadn’t managed to do: it was showing them their own strength.
“Aidan has played a pivotal role in buidling and strengthening our school’s rugby provision. Each week he brings dedictaion, expertise and belief to our students. He works hard to support our girls, ensuring they feel confident and included in every session and lesson he delivers. He has helped to create an environment where students can develop both their skills and their love for rugby. His positive impact is clear through teh tea and his contribution to rugby at our school as been amazing!”
-Teacher Feedback, Chislehurst School For Girls
That sense of inclusion matters deeply. Rugby has historically been perceived as a sport for a narrow demographic – and for many young women in London, especially those from communities affected by poverty, trauma, or instability, sports clubs can feel like spaces that simply aren’t for them. TackleLondon’s model is designed to break that barrier down, starting in schools and building trust that carries young people through the doors of local community clubs.
Women Who Give: The Leaders at TackleLondon
The Give To Gain theme also asks us to recognise those who give so that others can grow. At TackleLondon, we are fortunate to be led by women who bring not just professional expertise, but lived understanding of what young people need.
Dr Amy Atkinson, TackleLondon’s Schools and Education Manager, brings academic rigour and personal commitment to every school partnership. Her work is an embodiment of the IWD theme: she gives her knowledge, her voice, and her presence – and the gains reverberate through young people’s lives.
Why Girls' Access to Sport Is a Matter of Rights and Justice
The UN’s observance of International Women’s Day 2026 carries the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls” – calling for the dismantling of structural barriers that prevent girls from accessing the futures they deserve. In communities across London, those barriers are real and layered.
Around 10% of Londoners are estimated to have experienced four or more types of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Young people facing these challenges – trauma, neglect, poverty, or fractured family structures – are significantly more likely to become involved in violence, gang activity, or exploitation. Without intervention, the statistical odds stack against them.
For girls in these circumstances, the barriers to sport are compounded. Family financial pressures, safety concerns, cultural norms, and a lack of visible female role models in rugby all play a part. When TackleLondon brings rugby into a school, we are not simply running a sports session. We are making a rights-based argument in physical form: you belong here, this is for you, you are worth investing in.
Every girl who walks off a TackleLondon pitch with more confidence than she arrived with is evidence that sport is not a luxury – it is part of the infrastructure of a fair and just society.
Research consistently shows that women’s participation in sport has far-reaching benefits beyond physical health. Sport builds social networks, leadership skills, and resilience. It connects women and girls to communities and mentors. It is one of the most effective known routes to confidence and belonging for young people facing adversity.
TackleLondon’s model is built around exactly this truth. School sessions are the starting point, but the goal is always to connect young people to local rugby clubs, where relationships deepen and belonging takes root over time. Coaches attend clubs with young people, acting as social bridges to support their transition into a new community. It is a model of giving that generates compounding gains.
The Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation’s five pillars: Wellbeing and Inclusivity, Respect for People and Culture, Enjoyment of Team Sports, Discipline and Fairness, and Sporting Values, provide the backbone of TackleLondon’s mentoring focus. These are values that don’t stay on a rugby pitch. They follow young women home. They shape how they see themselves, their communities, and their futures.
Give To Gain - Together
International Women’s Day is not one day of reflection – it is a prompt to keep going. At TackleLondon, we believe the most powerful thing any of us can do is give consistency: a consistent presence, a consistent belief, and a consistent message to every young woman and girl we work with that she is capable, she is valued, and she has a place in this community.
As we grow, we need more people who understand the Give To Gain principle – people willing to offer their platform, their network, or their time so that more young Londoners can access the life-changing power of sport, mentorship and belonging.
If you’re inspired by the work being done by women and girls in our programme – or by the women leading it – we’d love to hear from you. This International Women’s Day, give something to TackleLondon, and watch what London gains.
