Strong Asian Representation at Grassroots to Global Connect Forum 2025 Ahead of WRWC Opening

The Grassroots to Global (G2G) Connect Forum will see 70 delegates from 34 countries attend a series of events in Sunderland in the lead-up to the opening of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.

Photo Credit – ChildFund Rugby

The G2G Connect Forum is a community leadership initiative of ChildFund Rugby that brings together emerging young female grassroots leaders from around the world to build networks and drive social change through rugby.

The community-led roundtable will be held on Thursday, 21 August, to showcase strategies and insights developed by young women in grassroots rugby leadership across 29 countries.

Led by World Rugby and ChildFund Rugby, this event offers a powerful platform for community leaders to shape the future of the game — culminating in a global call to action focused on increasing the number of women in community rugby coaching.

“Grassroots leaders are the heartbeat of our game. G2G Connect 2025 is about powering their voices into a global movement for equity in rugby,” said Meg Knight, ChildFund Rugby Co-Director.

As part of the 2025 Grassroots to Global Series – an Impact Beyond 2025 initiative – these leaders will present clear, actionable recommendations to increase the number of girls and women in community rugby coaching. The session will conclude with shared commitments to support and sustain the leadership of young women in rugby and beyond.

“More than just a role in sport, community coaching is increasingly recognised as a respected leadership position — one that contributes to gender equity, visibility, and community influence for women and girls,” said the organisers.

Launched in 2021 across 26 Unions, the first series engaged nearly 500 female community rugby leaders.

It highlighted amomng other:

• Having a female Coach is the strongest driver for girls and women to get involved in community rugby.
• Global Data revealed that only 8% of rugby Coaches worldwide are women.

The global series has engaged more than 1,000 women in 32 forums in 29 countries over the past year and built on the inaugural Grassroots to Global (G2G) Series.

Youth coach ​Michaila Alsagon from the Philippines Rugby Football Union is just one of the attendees and will spend a week in the UK for a number of activities after being “recognised as a leader in women’s club and community rugby” said the PRFU. She will attend the G2G forum and exchange ideas and strengthen strategies to inspire more girls and women to pursue rugby coaching.

The PRFU said she began her rugby journey while she was looking for a part-time job to support her studies and applied to the Pass It Back program.

From Asia, there will be delegates from:

• Indonesia
• Hong Kong China
• Singapore
• Lao pDR
• Nepal
• Vietnam
• Cambodia
• Philippines

Wednesday, 20 August – Arrival Ceremony for Lexi Chambers –  Race to RWRWC 2025

On 20th August 17:15 at Seaburn Beach, Rugby Asia 247 will be there to welcome Lexi Chambers as she completes her 10th ultramarathon in 10 days and the 2025 Race to Rugby World Cup, setting a new World Record. The arrival ceremony is open to the public.

Lexi is raising funds for ChildFund Rugby, World Rugby’s global Social Impact Partner for Women’s RWC 2025. Through the transformative power of rugby, ChildFund Rugby champions inclusion, gender equity, and youth
leadership to build stronger, more resilient communities

She arrives at 5:30 pm, and the ceremony will be followed by a T1 Rugby Beach Festival.

Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 News

• “We Want To Make It To The Knockouts at RWC 2025” – Sakura 15s Head Coach Lesley McKenzie.
• Lexi Chambers – World Record Challenge In the Race To the Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025.
• Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Medals Unveiled.
• Japan Sakura 15 Attend Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Welcome Ceremony in Northampton.