RFU to provide sanitary products at more than 500 clubs

Sanitary products will be provided at more than 500 rugby clubs across England in an effort to boost female participation in the sport.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced the initiative on Thursday as part of its legacy programme for the women's World Cup in England next year.

A women's health toolkit has also been introduced under the 'Every Rose' strategy, which aims to have more than 100,000 women and girls playing the sport by 2027.

After research by the charity Women in Sport found that seven in 10 teenage girls avoid activity when they’re on their period, the RFU says it wants to raise sanitary care levels at clubs as well as break the taboo around periods in women's sport.

"As part of the initiative, more than 300 packages have already been delivered to clubs nationwide, with circa 1,000 sanitary products being installed at clubs up and down the country," the RFU said in a statement.

"All thanks to funding from Impact '25's £7 million facility investment fund that aims to enhance the rugby club experience for females by improving toilets, upgrading changing rooms, and developing social spaces."

England captain Marlie Packer said: "I think clubs offering these facilities makes rugby more inclusive. Just the simple things of sanitary bins, I know that sounds a bit stupid, but we never used to see them in the clubs’ toilets and changing rooms.

"And now to see sanitary bins and products, whether that's a sanitary towel or tampon that you can grab and use when you need, when you've been caught off guard, it's a really fantastic scheme."

The Women's Rugby World Cup begins on 22 August 2025, with the final to take place at Twickenham Stadium on 27 September.