The inaugural Women’s British & Irish Lions tour will begin with a historic fixture in Cardiff, paying tribute to the pioneers of international women’s rugby. Ahead of their 2022 tour to New Zealand, the Women’s Lions will face France on August 27 at the Principality Stadium, near the venue that hosted the first Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991.
The Wales capital holds a significant place in the development of women’s rugby. It was the site of the initial international matches that laid the foundation for the sport today. The upcoming game echoes a landmark 1986 match in Richmond, where a Great Britain team took on France in the first women’s international on British soil. At that time, women’s rugby was largely self-organized, operating independently of established rugby unions. Carol Isherwood, now chair of the Women’s British & Irish Lions, played a critical role in organizing those early matches and later captained that initial Great Britain side.
Isherwood notes that in the mid-1980s, the Women’s Rugby Football Union operated out of a temporary office in a Twickenham parking lot, with players and administrators driving the sport forward through their own efforts. “We had to create everything ourselves — setting up internationals, unions, and even the World Cup,” Isherwood recalled. “It came from us women wanting to play and be the best.”
Five years after that first game, the first Women’s Rugby World Cup was held across south Wales. Despite lacking official recognition or financial support from the International Rugby Board (now World Rugby), the tournament was successfully staged through grassroots effort and dedicated volunteers. One notable episode involved the Soviet team, which arrived without funds and hoped to raise money by selling goods on the streets of Cardiff. Isherwood personally helped support the team by providing food upon their arrival.
The upcoming match in Cardiff will offer fans who cannot travel to New Zealand an opportunity to witness the launch of the first Women’s Lions team. The Principality Stadium was selected over other venues proposed by the four home unions. While New Zealand represents a formidable opponent, France was a natural choice for the home fixture due to historical ties dating back to those first women’s internationals.
Head coach Jo Yapp emphasized the importance of connecting the current generation of players with the rich history they inherit. Isherwood added that the spirit of cooperation, which has characterized women’s rugby since its earliest days, remains central to the sport. “We want this tour to be about collaboration with the Black Ferns as well as competition,” she said. “It’s competitive on the pitch, collaborative off it.”
Many of the original pioneers who helped establish international women’s rugby nearly four decades ago will be in attendance for the Cardiff match. They continue to maintain close relationships and regularly meet to celebrate the sport’s progress. The enthusiasm among those early players, some concerned about securing tickets for the upcoming game, reflects the considerable growth women’s rugby has achieved—from a grassroots movement to a major international spectacle.