Flight paths: the unexpected places women’s rugby can take you

Most people join a team sport to stay fit, have fun and meet new people. Grassroots rugby offers all of that and then some, leaving players with so much more than trophies and teammates.

For these former players, competing in girls’ and young women’s teams has opened doors they never expected outside of the changing rooms. From props and flankers to engineers and flight crew, these athletes are now thriving in leadership roles, their ambition supported by lessons learned on the pitch.

Here, seven inspirational women explain how far grassroots rugby has taken them, plus the lessons we can all learn from the sport.

Dame Inga started playing rugby for Wasps in 1989 until 2001. “At 43, I was the first female to ever be a CEO of listed financial services company in Switzerland. I felt pretty proud of that and I made some headlines – the one I remember the most was ‘Inga the Winga’. But being the CEO of Lloyd’s is my proudest achievement,” Inga says.

“Rugby was a huge support system outside of my work in the City. On the rugby pitch I felt I belonged. I learnt about the power of diversity. On a rugby team you need all sorts of different people in different positions and it’s only when you work together you create magic. One thing that we don’t do enough of in the business world is ‘practice’. We plan, we fix budgets, we measure performance, but most of the time we expect people to perform without necessarily practicing beforehand.”

Inga believes more businesses should model scenarios and prepare for the future to thrive. And she should know: in 2017 she was awarded a Damehood for her services to the UK economy.

In rugby, as in life, things don’t always go your way, but on the pitch Dame Inga learned to keep moving forward. “Turnarounds and transformations have been a key skill of mine in my career. I want to find a solution and my competitive nature means I am determined to win.”

Tammy’s first taste of rugby was during secondary school, when she was part of the first ever girls’ team. “We made history by becoming the inaugural female team invited to join the local club’s first women’s squad,” Tammy remembers. “As a prop, my role was to bolster and protect my teammates in the thick of the action, working together to achieve our goal. This position taught me the importance of being a reliable, strong support for others.”

Playing alongside the boys helped develop Tammy’s resilience and confidence from an early age, which proved invaluable as she entered a male-dominated industry. “I was often the only woman in my aerospace qualifications. I learned to hold my own in predominantly male environments, and the resilience I learned taught me how to recover from setbacks quickly.”

From player to referee, Lily first played rugby at university for the RAF. She fell in love with the sport, so even though she gave up contact play a year ago, she knew she couldn’t walk away from the community and camaraderie on and off the pitch. “With refereeing, I can still be in the middle of the pitch and contribute to the sport I love so much,” Lily says.

Lily credits the sport for developing her communication and ability to motivate a team. “The game pushes me to think creatively in terms of problem solving and forces me to be more agile. Because the laws change so often, I embrace and welcome change.”

Lily wishes more women played rugby, as it’s a sport “that doesn’t care about age, body shape or size, wealth or Instagram followers – there’s always going to be a place for you”.

Sonny is about to start the new season as head coach for Under 12 Girls, coaching across west London. She says her role has taught her about “leadership, communication and emotional intelligence” and that “working with young players with their own personalities and needs has made me a more patient, adaptable and supportive leader”.

She quotes a common phrase in rugby – leave the jersey in a better place – originating from the New Zealand All Blacks, as her mantra. “It’s about leaving a legacy, and I carry that mindset into my role at British Airways. I want to leave my team, position, and work culture stronger than I found them.”

Sonny also credits her time on the pitch for helping her mental health. “The structure, teamwork and physicality give me confidence and calm, calming my anxiety. After 80 minutes on the pitch, taking on tackles and winning scrums, there’s honestly nothing in the work week that feels too big to handle.”

As an avid supporter of women’s rugby, Helen, above right, has spent years on the sidelines watching her daughter, Niamh, above left, who has played from the age of seven. Niamh started her career at Dubai’s Arabian Knights, where Helen was the team manager, but has since played for Sutton, Epsom, Exeter and the England U20s, now playing with Hong Kong Rugby Club for the 2024/25 season.

“Much like cabin crew”, Helen has seen first-hand how women’s rugby supporters come from all walks of life. “We’re all thrown together pitch-side, mostly in the wind and rain, and have to work out what’s happening. Did someone score? What’s the penalty for? Watching teamwork in action is incredible. There’s a place for every person, shape and size in the team – everyone brings their own knowledge and skills.”

Although saying she was “terrible” at rugby when she first started playing at university, Rachel persevered as everyone was so welcoming. “That year, the team made it through to their cup final and I developed a new passion which has stayed with me,” she says. So much so, in fact, that when she couldn’t find a nearby women’s team to play for, she started her own, which has since been adopted by Millwall Rugby Club on the Isle of Dogs.

As for transferable skills, people management is key. “I struggle to think of another sport where people of all body shapes and strengths are valued. Rugby is a real leveller,” she says, affirming that each player is as important as the next. “It helps you appreciate the benefit of diversity in an organisation.”

When Charlotte joined a local women’s rugby team in January 2020, she never anticipated what the world would be plunged into just weeks later. From training once a week with “drills, laughter and shared purpose” to Zoom workouts and a buzzing WhatsApp group throughout the pandemic, the team became a lifeline for Charlotte.

As restrictions eased, socially distanced training resumed, and although Charlotte didn’t count herself as the most ‘skilled’ player, she was enthusiastic, committed and part of something meaningful. “That experience built my confidence, gave me faith in my own abilities and taught me to be more assertive, a shift that noticeably impacted my work life,” she says, noting how she spoke up more, trusted in her capacity to contribute meaningfully and took on new challenges.

“I’ve taken that confidence and turned it into new ventures, like becoming a dedicated CrossFitter, something I likely wouldn’t have considered before rugby. I saw that stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to unexpected and lasting growth, both personally and professionally,” she adds.

British Airways, the Official Airline Partner to England Rugby, continues to give the Red Roses its long-standing support. To book your next adventure, visit ba.com