Go With Her, Girls!

What women’s and girls rugby means to me.

I don’t play rugby. I have no desire to play rugby. All those rules, keeping track of which way you’re supposed to be running…running in general. No thank you.
But I spend a good majority of my time promoting women’s and girls rugby in Cornwall. Which may seem odd for someone who has no real interest in the sport itself. It’s bigger than that for me.

You see, behind the rugby is a community, a massive group of women and girls who are part of something else.
The phrase that best describes the world of women’s and girls rugby, safe haven.

I spend a vast amount of time feeling unsafe. The world is full of dangers for an autistic adult. It’s full of people that aren’t what they appear to be, full of confusion and uncertainty. This means I’m highly mistrusting of 99% of people. I just can’t risk trusting them as I don’t understand their intentions. It’s a safer way to live but can be isolating and a bit lonely (luckily my own company is bloody top notch so don’t feel bad for me!)

But over the last few years I have found this community of women’s rugby players. There’s something true at the heart of it. A core safety and genuineness that is not often found. I would happily walk into any clubhouse around the county knowing the ladies team are in there and be able to feel safe, included and welcome. I can’t explain why things are that way, I am just grateful they are.

It’s another reason I constantly fight for the growth of girls rugby. These girls are tomorrow’s women. They will be creating these unintentional safe spaces that slightly odd but well meaning and funny souls like me can walk into and enjoy a bag of Mini Chedders and a shandy.

The growth of women’s and girls rugby is loud and proud, as it should be. But there’s also a quiet movement underway. Not so obvious but real nonetheless. Where women support women by simply being themselves. And that’s bloody lush.