The history of women’s rugby is explored in a new special exhibition launched this week at Twickenham Stadium’s World Rugby Museum to coincide with the launch of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
The exhibition which examines the history of the women’s game and its development will run for six months with the centrepiece of the objects – the World Cup itself (pictured) – on show till September 5 when it will be presented to the winner.
The exhibition details the background of the 12 teams taking part in this World Cup which starts next Friday and also features a variety of iconic posters, objects, and images from the earliest days of the game including a superb broadcast from the 1930s of a club game in Melboune where two women’s team battled it out in front of a crowd of 30,000.
There is also a special tribute to Emily Valentine - the story of a Northern Irish girl which this website helped to discover. Valentine has been dubbed the ‘female Webb-Ellis’.
The exhibition also documents the little known sport of Barette that was closely related to rugby and became popular in 1920s France, as well as take a look at what is involved in a Rugby World Cup from the point of view of a player, in the ‘Player’s Experience’ section.
Entry to the World Rugby Museum costs £6 for adults and £4 for concessions. For up-to-date information, including opening hours, or to book your Stadium Tour in advance visit www.rfu.com/museum or call 020 8892 8877.
Images: (C) Ilona O'Donnell
