It’s money time for rugby women as golden decade approaches
THE awarding of the 2029 women’s Rugby World Cup to Australia has accelerated plans for the code to start paying its best players.
Australian rugby has been dragging its heels about putting money in the pockets of the top 15-a-side female players, with only two of Australia’s five Super W finals providing match payments and Wallaroos only getting paid for time in camp.
But the expected windfall from hosting the 2029 World Cup – plus the extra exposure the women’s game is going to get in the upcoming golden decade of major sporting events – is the game changer.
“It’s starting to move in the right direction, not just in rugby but across all sporting codes,” Australian Women’s Rugby president Josephine Sukkar said.
“I don’t think we’ve actually refined how to make the commercial case work at the moment but that said, the thing that makes me really proud is most codes are going, ‘if we don’t invest in it, we’re not going to get there anyway’ so they’ve just made the right decision and are figuring it out on the way.
“I’ve got a feeling it might be a little bit clumsy for the next couple of years until we get there but hopefully it won’t be long before it’s more seamless.”
The only Australian female players on full-time contracts are the Sevens team, which won the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Wallaroos captain Shannon Parry plays for the 15s and Sevens and expects it won’t be long before players get paid no matter which side they are picked in.
“I think we will see resources and funding supportive of the women’s program,” she said.
“What that looks like, I‘m not too sure right now, but there’s no doubt there are conversations in the background of Rugby Australia.”