Women competing and officiating at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 faced significantly higher levels of online abuse than those involved in the men’s tournament, according to a newly released report by World Rugby.

The governing body revealed that players and match officials at the 2025 women’s tournament were 69 per cent more likely to receive abusive messages on social media compared with participants at the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2023.

To address the issue, World Rugby partnered with digital threat intelligence specialist Signify to deliver its largest social media protection programme to date.

The initiative monitored activity across X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok throughout the tournament, aiming to protect players, match officials and their families while identifying and acting against online offenders.

The report found that more than 440,000 social media posts and comments were assessed, with 1,189 messages confirmed as abusive. Those incidents targeted 45 individual accounts.

Among the most common forms of abuse were body shaming, sexism and transphobic comments. Instagram accounted for the highest share of verified abuse, representing 54 per cent of all confirmed cases.

Investigators identified 17 accounts that met the threshold for further action.

Eight cases have since been referred to law enforcement agencies and social media platforms, with alleged offenders traced to Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States.

World Rugby said the findings highlight the increasing challenges that accompany the rising profile of women’s sport.

The organisation believes stronger cooperation between sporting bodies, governments and digital platforms is essential to improve reporting systems, strengthen accountability and reduce online harm.

The federation said its protection programme extended beyond simply removing harmful content by focusing on investigations, supporting victims and gathering long-term data to help shape future safeguarding policies.

Lessons from the initiative will also be used to strengthen preventative measures, while protection for Emirates World Rugby Match Officials will continue during international competitions in 2026.

World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said social media has played an important role in growing the game and connecting fans, but stressed that abuse has no place in rugby or society.

He said the organisation remains committed to identifying offenders and taking action against those responsible, while encouraging greater collaboration between sports organisations, governments and digital platforms.

Signify Group CEO and founder Jonathan Hirshler said the findings reflect a wider trend across global sport, where increased visibility of women’s competitions has been accompanied by a rise in targeted online abuse.

He said World Rugby’s approach demonstrates how technology, specialist investigators and law enforcement can work together to hold offenders accountable.