FIRST FIVE MARKETING

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No Woman No Try: A call to action that we must all hear.

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Last week the brilliant No Woman No Try finally hit our screens and began broadcasting its important message in to our homes.

The film - a project led by the courageous Victoria Rush and featuring life stories from the likes of the equally indomitable Zainab Alema, Shaunagh Brown & Stef Evans - lays bare the honest highs & lows of women's rugby.

We see the inspirational triumphs of these athletes who are also pioneers of business, sport and social change; but sadly also the harsh obstacles that face women's rugby - and indeed likely many more women’s sports - in it's ambition to grow in participation and commercial measure.

The question now is how we keep this great momentum going?

What can the community that has risen up and declared their support do to take this from an amazing message to an amazing change in the game?

If you haven't yet, we encourage you to watch it immediately.

Other than appreciating the brilliant work of Ben Marlow & Jack Tompkins, we were left feeling even more inspired to continue to champion equality and equity in all Sport.

But amongst the excitement and enjoyment, I'm left with one anxious feeling - what are the next steps?

How can we continue to keep this important message front of mind and consistently on the path to action?

There have been other equally provocative and enlightening documentaries such as Dan Leo's ‘Ocean’s Apart’ and Beno Obano's 'Everybody's Game'; that landed hard and full of accolades from the game - but there has not been the significant change in the Sport that they campaign for and merits.

Perhaps what is needed now is for the next Victoria Rush or Shaunagh Brown to step up, to reach out from the own Sport and take the baton to continue putting Women's sport on the agenda and forcing the world to see the disparity in resource, support and opportunity that it so truly deserves.

Which of the high profile sports can be the next chapter to rally support and further put pressure on the poeers that be to bring through equitable change?

We have all seen the power of Amazon’s “All Or Nothing” series’ and Netflix’s “Drive To Survive”, not to mention of course “Last Chance U”. The power of commercial investment that goes directly back in to the sport in intangible ways, much like the participation bump we see in sports following an Olympic Games or the “Wimbledon effect”.

What is the next injection of energy does this campaign need to effect real change in womens rugby? The time could not be more perfect given the competitive calendar on the horizon, but it will take more voices, more sports, more channels, more allies and and more action to make change.

So come on Athletes, and not just female athletes, ALL athletes need to use their platforms to tell true and inspirational stories that can bring about change for good.

We are all waiting with popcorn and our professional efforts at the ready!!!