How National Lottery support is helping drive women’s rugby triumphs
Catherine Spencer knows exactly how tough it can be for women to get back to playing sport after having a baby. The former captain of the Red Roses – the England women’s national rugby union team – had a daughter six years ago and understands the barriers facing mums who want to get back on the pitch.
On the eve of the Red Roses’ Women’s Rugby World Cup clash against Scotland (the team’s second World Cup fixture after beating Australia 47-7), Catherine visited National Lottery-funded Reading Abbey Rugby Club to learn about its efforts to get mums back in the game. The club has devised pioneering postpartum support and a women’s health campaign that has enabled it to form a team made up entirely of mums called the Maa Maas.
The Berkshire club has also used £15,000 of National Lottery funding to develop dedicated women’s and girls’ changing facilities.
Catherine, who led England to the World Cup final in 2010, said, “Reading Abbey Rugby Club has got strength in numbers in terms of women and girls, right through from the minis to the senior team. And its support for mums who want to come back into playing rugby is something I can really appreciate as a mother myself.”
Catherine learned that the club supports women on an emotional level as well as providing the facilities which break down barriers to participation. She added, “The club just wants to see people play rugby and make sure there are no barriers for anyone.”
Since retiring in 2011, Catherine has seen a transformation of the women’s game driven, in part, by National Lottery funding. Since 2009, nearly £50Million has been invested in women’s and girls’ rugby in England. In total, nearly £6Billion has gone into grassroots sport in general over the past 30 years. It’s fair to say The National Lottery has been a game changer for women’s and girls’ sport.
RFU initiatives are also driving female participation at every level. They include non-contact rugby for 14–18-year-olds and efforts to recruit more female coaches.
Catherine said, “I have been talking here about why it is that the England women’s rugby team is so successful. In part, it is because there are specific facilities at clubs for women and girls. It means that young girls and boys can watch rugby on the telly and find a local rugby club they can go to.
“The strength of our England team, as clichéd as it might sound, is built on really strong foundations and The National Lottery is helping hugely to build those foundations.”
24th September 2025
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