An exhibition celebrating women in rugby will launch at Brighton & Hove’s Seafront Gallery next week as part of the city’s campaign to become the UK capital for women and girls in sport.
The new exhibition, which launches on Monday 23 March – the same day the world cup trophy is visiting the city – features eye-catching images of players at Hove Rugby Club, taken by Bx Webb, and the University of Brighton, taken by Mo Tyrrell.
The images capture the true essence of women’s rugby: power, grace, strength, determination, camaraderie, focus, friendship, speed and joy.
Brighton & Hove City Council is determined to build on the success of last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, which included 2 sell-out games at The Amex and culminated in an historic win for the Red Roses, by encouraging more women and girls to take up the sport.
The council has been working with Strive ‘25, the tournament’s legacy project, to grow the game locally and earlier this year launched its Sport Lifts Her Higher campaign to address long-standing gender gaps in sporting participation by helping more women and girls get active.
With more than half of girls who responded to a recent survey saying watching professional athletes inspired them to play, and two-thirds agreeing that seeing diverse athletes showed sport was for everyone, the council wants to not only continue to attract elite women’s sport to the city but also increase the visibility of female athletes locally.
As part of those efforts, the council has teamed up with Hove Rugby Club and the University of Brighton for the forthcoming exhibition, which has been funded by Strive ‘25 as part of its ongoing work to encourage more women to play the sport.
Strive ‘25 and the council have already achieved a significant amount together. Since the world cup more than 2,600 women and girls have taken part in more than 70 local sessions, supported by more than 20 local clubs, charities and organisations.
A Strive ‘25 roadshow has also featured at 7 major events, helping even more people discover the fun, fitness and friendship rugby offers.
The ongoing work is also supporting the council’s long-term Let’s Get Moving strategy – a 10-year vision for the city which encourages people of all ages to get active and move more to improve their mental and physical wellbeing.
The outdoor exhibition will run until 26 April at The Seafront Gallery, between the Brighton i360 and the upside-down house.
Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “This exhibition celebrates the energy, strength and courage of the women who play rugby, who have discovered rugby, and who have found joy and togetherness in the sport.
“But it isn’t just about those who already play. It is about inspiring others to pick up and a ball and join them.
“Bx and Mo’s images are fantastic and capture everything our Sport Lifts Her Higher campaign is about.
“I can’t wait to see them once they have been installed and would encourage as many people as possible to take a stroll down the seafront and see them for themselves.
“I’m sure people will be inspired by what they see.”
For more information on Sport Lifts Her Higher and opportunities for women and girls to play rugby locally – including those who have never played the sport before – visit the council’s website.
