World in their Hands: The Story of the First Women's Rugby World Cup

by Martyn Thomas, Sarah Hunter (Foreword)

World in their Hands recounts the remarkable events that led to a group of friends from south-west London staging the inaugural Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991. The tournament was held just 13 years after teams from University College London and King’s contested a match that catalysed the growth of the women’s game in the UK, and the organisers overcame myriad obstacles before, during and after the World Cup. Those challenges, which included ingrained misogyny, motherhood, a recession, the Gulf War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, provide a fitting framing device for a book that celebrates female achievement in the face of adversity.

Although ostensibly a story about women’s rugby, this is a tale that has rare crossover appeal. It is not only the account of a group of inspirational women who took on the institutional misogyny that existed in rugby clubs across the globe to put on a first ever Women’s Rugby World Cup. It is also the compelling and relatable tale of how those women, their peers and others in the generations before them, reshaped the idea of what it means to be a woman, finding acceptance and friendship on boggy rugby pitches. At the time, with the men’s game tying itself up in knots about professionalism and apartheid, these women were a breath of fresh air. Three decades on, their achievements deserve to be highlighted to a wider audience.

Genres: Sports

352 pages, Hardcover

Published November 15, 2022

Reviews

[Matthew Povah-Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

was a great read especially with the WC on. some parts were very long winded

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really interesting and eye opening read. As a follower of both the Men’s and Women’s “oval ball game” I never have much thought to it origins and backstory until I saw this book in the bookshop. 100% worth the read.

[Amy Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read. So good to hear the history of women’s rugby and the challenges they’ve had to go through to get where they are with the game today.

[Su Newton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight into the pioneers that paved the way for today’s Red Roses