Women’s Rugby Exhibition Launches Ahead of World Cup

An upcoming exhibition titled “Scrum: Women in Rugby” aims to highlight the evolution and growth of women’s rugby as the World Cup approaches this month.

Scheduled to begin on August 22, the tournament will be hosted across eight venues in England, including Northampton Saints’ Franklin’s Gardens.

The exhibition, which commenced at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery on Friday, will be available to visitors until November 2.

Curator Victoria Davies stated, “What we wanted to do was have a look at the history of the game but also what’s happening now.”

Northampton is set to host England’s second group stage match against Samoa. The venue will also accommodate five additional matches, including games featuring Ireland against Japan and France against South Africa.

The exhibition will incorporate a diverse range of photos, videos, and installations that showcase the increasing popularity of women’s rugby in Northamptonshire.

Attendees can expect to see representations from local grassroots clubs, including the Loughborough Lightning, the women’s team connected to Northampton Saints.

Additionally, the exhibit will delve into the history of the sport and the participation of women in it.

Davies shared insights on the sport’s early days: “There were quite a lot of players in New Zealand back in the 1890s, but the press and general reception for it was absolutely terrible. There was a bit in the 1920s, but it didn’t really take off until the 60s and majorly the 80s.”