Women’s rugby development across the Pacific took centre stage at a regional summit in New South Wales, Australia, where representatives from 15 World Rugby and Oceania Rugby member unions gathered to strengthen opportunities for women and girls in the sport.

Delivered by World Rugby in partnership with Oceania Rugby, with support from the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports programme, the two-day event brought together 33 representatives, alongside officials from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Office for Sport.

The gathering marked the fifth event in World Rugby’s Impact Beyond summit series, following previous meetings in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.

It provided a platform for Pacific unions to exchange ideas and develop practical strategies to expand participation and strengthen the future of women’s rugby.

Participants explored ways to increase the visibility of women’s rugby, improve impact measurement, create engaging content, establish sustainable player pathways and build stronger partnerships.

Discussions also highlighted the role of Get Into Rugby Plus and other sport-for-development initiatives in opening opportunities for women and girls both on and off the field.

A key outcome was the development of individual priorities and action plans for participating unions, aimed at turning discussions into practical progress throughout the region.

World Rugby Chief of Women’s Rugby Sally Horrox said the Pacific had significant potential to grow the women’s and girls’ game, emphasising the importance of collaboration and stronger partnerships.

With the Men’s Rugby World Cup heading to Australia in 2027 and the Women’s Rugby World Cup following in 2029, Horrox said the region had an important opportunity to build a lasting legacy for the sport.

The summit also highlighted the importance of developing the next generation of women leaders in rugby.

Participants from Oceania Rugby initiatives, including the CAMP media and journalism programme and the Whistles and Whiteboards coaching and refereeing initiative, joined union representatives for the event.

Organisers also welcomed a new cohort of World Rugby Impact Champions, a leadership programme designed to equip women with professional development, mentoring and seed funding to implement projects that support women’s and girls’ rugby.

Following its launch in Africa in 2025, the programme has expanded into Oceania, providing participants with opportunities to lead change within their unions and communities.

The summit concluded alongside a major international rugby programme at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, where attendees watched the WXV Global Series match between Australia’s Wallaroos and Scotland Women, as well as a women’s sevens contest between Australia and New Zealand.

The initiative reinforces a broader regional effort to build stronger pathways, increase representation and create more opportunities for women and girls to participate and lead in rugby across the Pacific.