Images taken at Marjons v Bournemouth by Liv Carpenter
Marjon Women’s rugby team is one of the best university teams in rugby in the southwest of England, and they had a very successful 23/24 season. Despite their on-field success, the team is currently facing a significant challenge off the pitch: a player shortage. With numbers dwindling, the team is now actively seeking to expand its squad by encouraging more students across the university to get involved.
With women’s rugby on the rise, ticket sales have increased massively, leading stadiums to sell out at major events. Marjon’s university risks falling behind, so we wanted to know what it can do to make rugby more accessible to students. So what more can the university do to support and promote women’s rugby on campus?
To gain insight, we spoke with Georgie, a scholar player on the team, who highlighted the efforts players are already making. “It would be great if Marjon could help get our voices out to the rest of the uni,” she said. “We’re already trying really hard-some of the girls have been going up to other students and speaking to them directly to encourage them to join.” The girls have really shown their dedication to the team, but Georgie also believes greater institutional support could make a big difference.
One key area where Marjon appears to be falling short is social media and promotional coverage. Georgie noted that having a dedicated photographer at matches would be hugely beneficial. “If we had photos from games, we’d be able to post them on social media,” she said. Increased visual content would not only raise awareness but also allow students to see what it’s like to play for the team, helping to inspire new players to get involved.
Funding is another major obstacle. The £150 joining fee creates a financial barrier for some students, preventing them from participating. To combat this, the team has taken matters into their own hands by organising raffles and charity events to raise money and support players who might otherwise be unable to afford to play. While these initiatives demonstrate strong team spirit, players feel that financial support from the university could ease the burden and encourage wider participation.
The player shortage was most recently felt on 10 December, when Marjon was forced to forfeit its match against Bournemouth due to a lack of available players. Despite winning the game on the field, the result could not stand because the team was just one starting player short. The incident highlighted the urgency of the situation and the pressing need for increased recruitment and support.
As women’s rugby continues to grow at a national level, the challenges faced by Marjon’s women’s team underline the importance of visibility, funding, and institutional backing. Without meaningful changes, a team with a proven record of success risks being undermined not by performance, but by preventable barriers off the pitch.