Play for ImpACT: ChildFund Rugby calls for gender equity on and off the field through new campaign

ChildFund Rugby today launched “Play for ImpACT,” a campaign urging the global rugby family to support women and girls to have equal opportunities to play, learn, and lead on and off the pitch.

Play for ImpACT aims to raise awareness for gender equity in rugby and beyond, as well as raise funds so that ChildFund Rugby’s partnerships can impact more communities by challenging discrimination and negative gender stereotypes in rugby and communities.

“By supporting ChildFund Rugby and its partners, you can create positive impact through rugby. Your support will help young people to learn and practice skills that lead to positive decision making, gender equity and it will inspire the next generation of community leaders through rugby,” said Chris Mastaglio, ChildFund Rugby Director.

Over the last 10 years, ChildFund Rugby’s partnerships have ensured that more than 50 per cent of players and coaches are girls and women.  Through integrated rugby and life-skills learning, children and young people have become more than future rugby champions, but future leaders, challenging harmful gender norms in their communities. To date, more than 50,000 children and young people have learned through ChildFund Rugby’s partnerships.

The launch of Play for ImpACT coincides with the countdown to Rugby World Cup 2021 to be held this October in New Zealand.  ChildFund Rugby is the first ever Principal Charity for the women’s edition, following on from partnerships that delivered social impact across Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan and Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in South Africa.

Funds raised as Principal Charity will support gender equity and leadership learning for women and girls in New Zealand and Oceania through rugby partnerships.

“Through the public’s generosity, partners will be able to deliver rugby and life skills learning, tackling violence against women and girls. We will also support the development of new leadership networks by connecting female community leaders in rugby across the globe,” said Mastaglio. “Donations will also ensure that sport is safe and inclusive for everyone, something that is particularly important for the long-term participation of girls and women.”

With a campaign tagline of “Every act makes an impact,” ChildFund Rugby looks forward to the support of the global rugby family to shape the future of the sport.

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ChildFund Rugby is led by ChildFund Australia, an independent international development organisation that works to reduce poverty for children in developing communities and a member of the ChildFund Alliance – a global network of 12 organisations which assists almost 23 million children and their families in 70 countries.