A Love Letter to Women's Rugby

A Love Letter to Rugby: On Rivalry, Identity & the Girls Who Watch

There was a palpable excitement in Allianz Stadium. Everyone is there to share their love of this beautiful game, everything it stands for and let their team hear that they were there for them, in football terms, the 12th woman. I made a conscious decision during this assignment I would carry my own brief: to find the in-between, the moments that define the emotion and sisterhood held in this beautiful game of rugby. As a photographer, these emotions are where the story begins, where the essence of the message unfolds in subtle gestures, the emotion, the intimacy, and the shared identity within every frame.

Rivalry with Roots – Le Crunch

England vs. France carries its own legacy, steeped in history, pride, and fierce respect. You see it in the players’ faces during the anthem: clenched jaws, teary eyes, the pressure of legacy. But it’s not just the action that captivates, it’s the atmosphere. In the stands, fan culture is alive and personal: tattoos peek from sleeves, national colours are braided into hair, kits are customised with names and pride. These details tell a bigger story about identity, a collective energy shaped by the people who love this game deeply, and live it loudly.

For the Girls Who Watch

Among the crowds are young girls and boys with wide eyes, hoisted onto shoulders to glimpse their heroes. Families cheer together, women paint flags on each other’s cheeks, toddlers clutch mini rugby balls. These moments are just as pivotal as any try. They’re not background, they’re the future. And it’s here, in these everyday scenes of joy and connection, that women’s rugby reveals its full power: as a space of belonging. A culture of shared emotion, fierce camaraderie, and visible possibility.

We talk a lot about progress in women’s sport, and rightly so, the energy in stadiums is electric. The rivalries are fierce, the players are bold, brilliant, and blazing trails. But I keep coming back to this question: Does the representation we champion on the field truly run deep enough? Because identity in sport isn’t just about who’s on the field, It’s about who’s behind the lens, In the director’s chair, on the comms team, writing the stories, signing off the campaigns, designing the kits, calling the shots, true change doesn’t stop at the touchline, it’s cultural, not just visual.

There’s no denying the shift happening in women’s rugby, the fandom is growing. The coverage is improving. And young girls are seeing more of themselves on the pitch than ever before. But as the message of inclusion grows louder, so too does the need to ask: Are we also changing who gets to tell the story? Whose perspective is shaping the way we see the women’s game?

Representation isn’t just a face on a billboard or a player in a headline. It’s about whose creativity is trusted, whose leadership is backed, and whose vision is given space. Because if we want the next generation to believe they belong in every part of sport, Then we have to show them they do. Even if they’ve never seen it done before. Especially then!

Through my lens, I aim to honour not just the athletes, but the fans, the families, and the fleeting moments that give this game its soul. To show what women’s rugby looks like not just played, but lived, loved, and shared. If you're looking for someone to capture the true heart of the game with nuance, authenticity, and care, let’s connect.

For commissions, collaborations or partnerships, this is the lens I bring.
Share this with someone who understands the power of women’s sport.
Share it for a girl who inspires you to move fiercely and love deeply.

Let’s make sure the future we’re building in women’s sport is not just more visible but more representative.

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