Mud, Muscle and Women's Rugby at Hackney Ladies RFC
Rugby Journal Sport Finalist 2024 AOP Awards
Commissioned by Rugby Journal in February 2024, this Hackney Ladies rugby series was made in conditions that demanded everything from the players.
This shoot was a true test of endurance, weeks of relentless rain had left the pitch sodden, forcing scrums to be repositioned for stability. I knew the challenging conditions would elevate this story. The mud didn’t just add texture; it amplifies the raw drama of the sport.
In this edit from the series, I sought to emphasise the struggle and commitment within the muddy chaos of the game. Inspired by Baroque painter Rubens ‘Battle of the Amazons’ depicting a seething mass of bodies and continuing motion. Smeared in war paint and emboldened by the determination to succeed they epitomise the fight for gender parity.
The AOP shortlisted a frame from this project, which I wrote about in a full circle moment. There is more club rugby at East London RFC and with the East London Vixens, and the rest sits in the sports portfolio.