Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa, took part in the “Journey of Women’s Representation in Rugby Leadership” panel during the 17th World Rugby General Assembly, held in London on the eve of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final. The gathering brought together 134 national unions and regional associations to discuss progress in leadership, governance, and the sport’s global direction.
During his address, Mensah stressed the need to promote gender equality as a pathway to growth and excellence in rugby. “How can you ignore talent because of gender? If sport is big business, excluding women means rejecting 50% of the world and losing 50% of your profit,” said the Ghanaian official, underlining that women’s inclusion must be viewed as an opportunity rather than a concession.
Equality as a driver of progress in rugby
Mensah’s message aligns with World Rugby’s ongoing transformation in gender representation. Over the past decade, the organisation has increased the presence of women in decision-making bodies, reaching 42% on the Executive Board and 38% on the Council. This progress reflects a global commitment to diversity and inclusive governance.
Across the African continent, Rugby Africa is working to mirror this evolution through leadership and visibility programmes designed for women in the game. Mensah reaffirmed the confederation’s commitment to shared excellence: “I believe in womanhood. This beautiful game demands excellence, and we cannot achieve it with only half of us.”
The figures behind the growth of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup
The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England broke all previous records for attendance and engagement. A total of 444,465 tickets were sold throughout the tournament, while the final between England and Canada drew 81,885 fans to Twickenham. Spectators came from 133 countries, with women representing 53% of attendees. Notably, half of them were attending a women’s rugby match for the first time, and 95% said they intended to return. This surge highlights the sustained growth of the women’s game and reinforces the message of inclusion and development championed by Mensah.
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson described the event as a turning point for the sport: “This tournament has been joyous, bold and brilliant; it shows what happens when rugby embraces diversity.” His remarks reinforced the need to sustain momentum towards a more inclusive global leadership.
A new era built on three pillars
During the Assembly, World Rugby unveiled an outline of its new five-year Strategic Plan, scheduled for public release in January. The document aims to consolidate the sport’s global growth, strengthen federation structures, and foster leadership that reflects the diversity of the rugby community.
The plan is built around three key pillars: iconic events, impactful investment, and strong leadership in support of member unions, setting the foundation for a new stage of institutional development across world rugby.
