Category: Women’s News

Photo credit: Sara Pardoe
Lisa O’Keefe MBE (Secretary General, International Working Group on Women and Sport) and Richard Allcroft OBE (WWR President) and the signed declaration

World Wheelchair Rugby (WWR) is thrilled to announce a historic step toward gender equity in wheelchair rugby with the signing of the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport’s Brighton Plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration on March 4. This landmark commitment is accompanied by the launch of the Wheelchair Rugby Gender Equity Playbook—a game-changing strategy designed to drive female participation and leadership at every level of the sport.

The Brighton Plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration is a global movement championing equity, inclusion, and opportunity for women in sport. Recognizing the need for greater female representation, WWR’s 2022 strategic review set the foundation for this initiative.

WWR President, Richard Allcroft OBE, emphasized the importance of action:

“We recognised as an organisation that we were not doing enough to include female athletes within our sport. I’ve always been proud that our sport is open to all genders, but it was clear that if we didn’t create change, then we were never going to see enough female athletes taking up the game.

As our strategies were taking shape, this needed to expand to encompass the inclusion of women in leadership positions as well. The signing of the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration and the launch of our Playbooks is a statement that we are not just open to change but committed to making changes.”

Kathy Newman, Director of Development and Competitions and Chair of the WWR Women’s Task Group, reinforced the transformative nature of this step:

“The Brighton Plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration isn’t just a pledge—it’s a game-changer. When we formed our Women in Sport Task Team, we saw the barriers holding women back. This declaration is breaking them down, driving real change worldwide. When we invest in women in sport, we don’t just level the playing field—we transform the game for future generations and we change lives.

A future where women have equal opportunities in sport isn’t just possible—it’s happening. The Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration is proof that when we commit to change, we create a legacy of inclusion and empowerment.”

WWR is committed to turning words into action with the Wheelchair Rugby Gender Equity Playbook, a strategic framework aimed at:

• Recruiting more female athletes through targeted outreach and engagement.
• Developing leadership pathways for women in coaching, officiating, and governance.
• Ensuring fair funding and resource allocation to support female athletes.
• Creating a culture of inclusion through policy and mindset shifts across the sport.

Within the Playbook is a practical, community-focused guide designed to help local clubs create and deliver inclusive programming for women+. As well as a strategic framework for national federations and governing bodies. It provides guidance on policy development, funding applications, and the creation of targeted communications strategies to drive lasting change at a systemic level.

To complement these resources, WWR has also released a one-page summary, offering a concise overview of both playbooks and their key objectives.

This is more than a promise—it’s a bold, actionable plan to create lasting change. As nations begin implementing the playbook, WWR calls on the global wheelchair rugby community to step up and make equity a reality.

Lisa O’Keefe MBE, Secretary General of IWG, reflected after the signing:

“It’s a great pleasure to welcome World Wheelchair Rugby as the latest signatory of the IWG’s Declaration. IWG was involved in the consultation stage of the playbook and so I saw first-hand their commitment to making systemic change within the Federation in order to make the sport accessible to women and girls at every level.

WWR underwent a thorough process to produce their Playbooks, and I’m delighted we can share their brilliant work with the IWG network.”

For more information on the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration and the Wheelchair Rugby Gender Equity Playbook, visit https://worldwheelchair.rugby/ or follow us on social media @ww_rugby.

The World Wheelchair Rugby Gender Equity Playbooks can be found here on the Women+ page of the WWR Website: https://worldwheelchair.rugby/women-resources/

The video from the signing can be found here: https://youtu.be/I-V66XCUom8

The 4th edition of the Women’s Cup in Paris was a remarkable milestone for women in wheelchair rugby. Held in 2024, the tournament brought together over 60 female players from 18 nations, showcasing the rapid growth of the sport and its increasing global reach.

From humble beginnings with just 12 players in 2017, the Women’s Cup expanded to 42 players by 2023, marking a significant step forward with its first-ever match between two national teams, Great Britain and Canada. In 2024, the competition featured six national teams—Brazil, Spain, Ireland, Great Britain, the USA, and host nation France—along with two regional global teams.

Empowering Women in Wheelchair Rugby

The Women’s Cup wasn’t just about the competition; it was a platform for progress and advocacy. The WWR Global Taskforce for Women’s Participation hosted a workshop for players and team staff, emphasizing the importance of inclusion and sharing updates on initiatives to boost women’s participation in wheelchair rugby.

Key Updates Shared by the Taskforce:

• Enhanced Points Addition: WWR is seeking approval to change the points system, increasing the addition to the team for each female player on court. For each player rated 2.0 and above the team will receive an additional 0.5 on top of the current additional 0.5. Players rated 1.5 and below will still receive the original additional 0.5 points for their team. 
• Future Competitions: Discussions began about establishing an annual event dedicated to women’s teams.
• The Playbook Launch: A comprehensive guide to growing women’s participation both internationally and domestically will debut in March 2024, aligning with International Women’s Day.
• Ambassador Program: Participants were encouraged to become national ambassadors to advocate for women in wheelchair rugby.

Voices from the Players

During the workshop and throughout the tournament, players voiced their aspirations and challenges:

• More Opportunities: Players emphasized the need for additional competitions and training opportunities as national women’s teams.
• Support from Federations: Advocacy for national federations to back women’s teams and ensure equitable support was a key priority.
• Inclusive Environments: Players called for welcoming club environments where coaching, court time, and opportunities are equitable for all genders.
• Paralympic Representation: There was widespread support for a women’s division in the Paralympics while maintaining mixed competition options.

Moments of Inspiration

The tournament was filled with inspiring stories:

• A player balancing motherhood by bringing her support team and toddler to the event.
• Brazil making history with an all-female staff delegation.
• A veteran player expressing newfound confidence and relaxation playing in an all-women environment.
• A young player aspiring to compete in the first Women’s World Championships.
• Teams forming lifelong bonds and expanding their “family” across borders.

Quotes from participants encapsulated the spirit of the event:

• “This was the best experience of my life.”
• “My family is bigger now—it’s from around the world.”
• “I hope back home they saw me play and will now give me court time. I can play with the men, and I am good.”

Looking Ahead:

The success of the 4th Women’s Cup paves the way for exciting developments in women’s wheelchair rugby:

• Playbook Launch: The “Playbook to Grow Women’s Participation in Wheelchair Rugby” will debut in March 2024.
• Expanded Competitions: Work is underway to establish a robust calendar of events at zonal and global levels.
• World Championships: Plans for the inaugural Women’s Wheelchair Rugby World Championships are in progress.
• Ambassador Growth: The Ambassador Program aims to have representation from every nation, furthering the cause of inclusivity.

The 2024 Women’s Cup was not just a tournament—it was a celebration of resilience, progress, and the limitless potential of women in wheelchair rugby. As the sport continues to grow, the global community is committed to creating more opportunities for women to thrive on and off the court.

Find the results here: https://womenscup-rugbyfauteuil.com/programme-resultats/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHI4dBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHbcec8RoLc_mGaOFUuTAjkp45kCflJvLhKfsK0i8zDGuNgPxBzymVq7TVA_aem_8pV1d-oDK4wulrg1jYP99Q