World Sports Photography Finalist 2026: Women’s Rugby

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Why Long-Term Commitment Matters in Women’s Sport

Being named a finalist in the World Sports Photography Awards 2026 for an image from the Women’s Rugby World Cup bronze final between France and New Zealand is something I’m deeply proud of, not just for the recognition itself, but for what it represents after a long, demanding and personally invested project. I photographed 13 matches across the tournament, travelling from Sunderland to Brighton, working largely independently and producing over 70,000 frames. Alongside this, I created a 20-page editorial feature for Rugby Journal, published shortly after the tournament ended. It was one of the most intense and rewarding periods of my career.

Making Meaningful Sports Photography Against Real Challenges

What people don’t always see behind work like this is the scale of commitment required. Financially, logistically, physically, projects of this size require belief long before there’s any certainty of outcome. Travel, accommodation, equipment, storage, insurance, time away from other paid work, all of that adds up. But women’s sport has never grown because it was easy or convenient. It grows because people show up and stay.

For me, this project was never just about chasing a single image or headline moment. It was about building a coherent, respectful visual record of a tournament that represented so much progress, pride and collective energy. Women’s rugby carries a unique emotional honesty, joy, resilience, community and I wanted that to be felt.

After the World Cup ended, I realised I needed time before sharing the wider archive. Sitting with such a large body of work can feel overwhelming. Editing isn’t just technical, it’s emotional. You’re deciding what story gets told, what gets left out, and how your voice sits within a much bigger narrative. That’s partly why I haven’t shared much publicly yet. I wanted space to ask myself: What does this body of work mean? What do I want it to say about women’s rugby and about how it deserves to be photographed?

Photographing With Purpose, Not Just for Headlines

Being selected as a World Sports Photography Awards finalist offered a nudge of reassurance. A reminder that careful, long-term documentary work still resonates. That there’s value in patience. And that believing in a project, even when it stretches you, can matter. I don’t yet know exactly what shape this archive will take next. A book has been suggested. An exhibition. A longer-form series. For now, I’m letting it evolve naturally, rather than rushing it into the world before it’s ready.

What I do know is this: I want my work to serve the people and communities it documents. I want it to feel grounded, human and honest. And I want it to contribute meaningfully to how women’s sport is seen, valued and remembered. This finalist image is just one frame from a much larger story. More will come, when the work is ready to speak for itself. Thank you to World Sports Photography Awards, Rugby Journal, and to every player, fan and organiser who lit up the Women’s Rugby World Cup and made it unforgettable.