The Israel Rugby Union marks International Women’s Day with a clear trend of growth and empowerment. In 2026, more women are playing, coaching, refereeing and leading the sport as part of a broader effort to develop rugby and make it accessible to more diverse audiences.
Today, Israel has a senior women’s national team representing the country in the European Championship. At the same time, dedicated development programs for girls are being promoted, an area that did not previously exist within the union’s framework.
Alongside the national team, women’s teams also operate within the Israeli Women’s Rugby League in clubs across the country, including Upper Galilee, Maccabi Tel Aviv, the Owls (Maccabi Rishon LeZion), Jerusalem, Hadarim and Maccabi Haifa. These teams participate in the Women’s Sevens League tournaments and serve as the foundation for the development of women’s rugby in Israel as part of the club structure of the Israel Rugby Union.
This year also marks another significant milestone. For the first time in Israel, a girls’ Tag Rugby league is being held in cooperation with the School Sport Federation, with seven teams from across the country taking part.
In addition, girls play alongside boys up to the age of 14 in rugby clubs such as Hadarim, Upper Galilee where a full girls’ team also operates, Jezreel, Haifa and Jerusalem.
Women also play a central role in rugby in Israel beyond the field. Women serve in leadership, coaching and refereeing roles within the union, including the Leagues Manager, Safeguarding Officer, Instructor Course Coordinator and the coach of the women’s national team. Senior Israeli female referees represent the country in European and international rugby frameworks and take part in professional training courses and seminars.
The union is also investing financially in the promotion of the field, with about 30 percent of public funding allocated to women’s activities and the development of programs for girls.
The growth in Israel reflects a broader global trend. Today about 2.7 million women and girls play rugby worldwide, representing more than a quarter of all players in the sport, and the number continues to grow rapidly in recent years.
The growing interest in the game is also reflected in attendance figures. The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England broke records with 444,465 tickets sold throughout the tournament. The final was played in front of 81,885 spectators, the largest crowd ever recorded for a women’s rugby match.
Boni Manor Gottfried, CEO of the Israel Rugby Union, said: “We are proud to see more and more women becoming part of Israeli rugby as players, coaches, referees and administrators. Rugby is a sport built on values of community, teamwork and equal opportunity, so it is natural for us to lead the promotion of women in sport. Building infrastructure for girls is one of our key goals for the coming years to ensure that every girl in Israel who chooses rugby has a framework in which she can develop.”
The Israel Rugby Union emphasizes that investment in women and girls is part of a broader plan to grow the sport in Israel and make it more accessible, diverse and inclusive.