"The head of World Rugby has urged the men's game to learn lessons from how players at the Women's Rugby World Cup have shown off their personalities and interacted more with fans. Alan Gilpin also suggested that World Rugby would be preparing a dossier of great facts and stats to show teams at the men's World Cup in 2027 that engaging more with supporters would not take the edge off their performances."
"Perceptions about our sport are being challenged, are being changed, and, in many cases, are being blown out of the water, said Gilpin. And we believe there's a real opportunity for the men's game to actually follow the lead. We're seeing greater accessibility and more personality creates more stars. Players have been posing for selfies, signing autographs and, in the case of Japan, even bowing to the crowd to show their support."
"I've been involved in a lot of Rugby World Cups, said Gilpin. I don't think I've been involved in one with an atmosphere quite like this. Whether it's the dancing between the teams after a match, the interaction with fans after the final whistle or their engagement individually on social media, it is a genie you can't put back very easily in the bottle."
World Rugby's leadership urged the men's game to learn from player personalities and fan interactions showcased at the Women's Rugby World Cup. Greater accessibility and more visible personality have created more stars and improved the tournament's vibe, with players posing for selfies, signing autographs and bowing to crowds. Ninety percent of fans, many first-time rugby attendees, said they would return. Fan engagement, dancing between teams, post-match interaction and social media activity are described as a lasting change that can enable performance rather than inhibit it. World Rugby will compile facts and statistics to encourage similar engagement ahead of the 2027 men's World Cup.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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