I was recently asked “who do you look up to in the world of rugby?” My answer seemed to perplex a few so I wanted to explain my reasoning, or show my working to steal a phrase from my previous life as an educator.
Elma Smit.
If you google Elma, you won’t get a club bio, a shirt to buy or a list of stats. To my knowledge, she has never played in a rugby match, or led training. Elma isn’t a rugby player, but she’s my most important person in the drive to make rugby accessible to the masses, and in particular girls and women.
Elma is the presenter of the riotous podcast The Good, The Scaz and the Rugby. She is a celebrated sports broadcaster, she is a trailblazer.
The fearlessness with which Elma Smit celebrates, fangirls, hollers from the rooftops about women’s and girls rugby is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Making a real world impact on girls and women looking to play and support the game, as well as encouraging boys and men to be a part of it.
Elma reminds me that it is not just ok to be a fan, to work toward being a change maker, it is the best way to be.
I strive to be more unapologetic, a bit shouty, more authentically me in my women’s rugby support, because of Elma Smit.
(Also, her Bella Bear mascot head falling off is one of my top 5 women’s rugby moments.)
Go With Her, Girls! 
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