RFU Launches ‘Every Rose: Our Time’ – A Five-Year Plan to Shape the Future of Women’s Rugby
The RFU has unveiled Every Rose: Our Time, a new five-year action plan designed to build on the success of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup and drive the next era of growth for women’s and girls’ rugby in England.
The plan sets out a clear ambition: to make England the global leader in women’s rugby – both on and off the field – while inspiring the next generation of players, fans, coaches, and match officials.
Building on Strong Foundations
Since the first Every Rose plan launched in 2021, women’s rugby in England has seen extraordinary growth. Once considered an emerging part of the game, it is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, with momentum at every level.
Key achievements over the past four years include:
- Participation on the rise – Female player numbers have increased by 38%, with over 500 clubs now offering women’s and girls’ rugby.
- Unprecedented success for the Red Roses – England’s women have reached new heights, ranked number one in the world, winning the World Cup, claiming seven consecutive Six Nations titles, and setting a world-record 33 straight victories.
- Growing visibility and support – Attendances have more than doubled, with record-breaking crowds at Allianz Stadium, and the women’s rugby fanbase has tripled to over 200,000.
- Greater investment – Annual funding has tripled since 2021, enabling new teams, professional opportunities, and stronger development pathways.
- Leadership from within – Over 1,400 women have qualified as coaches and match officials, creating more opportunities and role models across the game.
These milestones have transformed perceptions of the women’s game and laid the groundwork for even greater progress.
The Next Phase: Four Key Priorities
Every Rose: Our Time focuses on four major pillars to guide the sport’s continued growth and success:
- Play – Increase participation to 100,000 active players, with 70,000 registered at clubs, ensuring more women and girls can start, stay and thrive in rugby.
- Perform – Keep the Red Roses at the top of the global game, retain the World Cup in 2029, and strengthen player pathways and domestic competitions, including Premiership Women’s Rugby.
- Follow – Deepen engagement with fans, targeting 3 million passionate supporters through memorable match-day experiences and stronger storytelling.
- Fund – Double revenue to £60 million through innovative partnerships, sponsorships, and commercial opportunities to fuel the game’s long-term growth.
“Our Time to Lead and Inspire”
RFU Chief Executive Bill Sweeney said the plan marks a defining moment for women’s rugby and women’s sport as a whole.
“Women’s and girls’ rugby represents a massive growth opportunity in our sport, and we are proud of the fact that as a union we have long recognised this and are starting to reap the reward. With Every Rose: Our Time, we are setting out not just a plan for rugby, but a statement of ambition for women’s sport more broadly. This is our time to lead, inspire and deliver lasting change.”
Alex Teasdale, Executive Director of the Women’s Game, added that the plan builds on solid foundations rather than starting from scratch.
“The momentum behind women’s rugby has never been greater, and we’re really proud of the role we’re playing in the game,” she said.
“We want every woman and girl to feel they have a place in rugby. This plan is about connection, opportunity, and growth – creating a future where women’s rugby thrives at every level.”
A Collective Effort
Delivering Every Rose: Our Time will require collaboration across the rugby community – from clubs and players to schools, universities, sponsors, and fans.
With the Red Roses continuing to inspire record-breaking audiences and grassroots participation at an all-time high, this plan aims to ensure the sport keeps moving forward with the same energy and ambition that have defined the women’s game in recent years.
As the RFU puts it: this is England’s time to lead, inspire, and deliver lasting change for women’s rugby.
(Photo by Alex Davidson – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
