YOU PLAY LIKE A GIRL
Cicely Jackson
Rugby. Physical. Rough. Female. Women’s rugby is the fastest growing sport in the world. Over the last few decades, what it means to be a woman in a sport perceived as being for men has been redefined, and boundaries are still being pushed. This book explores themes of femininity and athleticism, aiming to challenge the societal ideologies that women don’t belong in sport.
We belong everywhere.
Rugby has a misogynistic history. There has been amazing progress over the last few decades that has put the game where it is now, but it didn’t come without hardship. Since rugby first gained popularity in the 1800s, most attempts to tour ended in abuse and abandonment. In modern days, there are still people dismissive of the idea of women playing sport but that hasn’t stopped anyone. Records for viewership and attendance are constantly being broken showing now, more than ever, people are watching women’s sport.
Rugby is a sport that is ingrained in Welsh culture. Wales has been central to the development of women’s rugby such as being the hosting country for the first Women’s World Cup in 1991. In recent years, there has been a fall from the top. The international men’s game has been struggling to achieve the level it used to, and this has impacted the Welsh community as we know it. The Welsh Rugby Union is proposing to change the current four club structure to three which will have a
negative effect on the support of the game from local areas to the international stage. However, what you don’t see is that this proposal also includes two new women’s teams which will compete at a high league level. This is crucial to the further development and support for change in Wales by bringing more attention to the professional women’s game. This publication aims to bring more conversation and support for the future of women’s rugby. Rugby is the national sport of Wales, it’s important that as the world of rugby continues to move forward, Wales moves with it.
Rygbi. Corfforol. Garw. Benywaidd. Rygbi merched yw’r gamp sy’n tyfu’n gyflymaf yn y byd. Dros yr ychydig ddegawdau diwethaf, mae’r hyn y mae’n ei olygu i fod yn fenyw mewn camp sy’n cael ei ystyried fel i ddynion wedi cael ei ailddiffinio, ac mae ffiniau yn dal i gael eu gwthio. Mae’r llyfr hwn yn archwilio themâu benyweidd-dra ac athletiaeth, gyda’r nod o herio’r ideolegau cymdeithasol nad yw menywod yn perthyn i chwaraeon.
Rydyn ni’n perthyn ym mhobman.
Mae gan rygbi hanes misogynistaidd. Bu cynnydd anhygoel dros y degawdau diwethaf sydd wedi rhoi’r gêm lle mae nawr, ond ni ddaeth heb galedi. Ers i rygbi ennill poblogrwydd gyntaf yn y 1800au, daeth y rhan fwyaf o ymdrechion i deithio i ben mewn camdriniaeth a gadael. Yn y dyddiau modern, mae yna bobl o hyd sy’n diystyru’r syniad o fenywod yn chwarae chwaraeon ond nid yw hynny wedi atal unrhyw un. Mae recordiau gwylio a phresenoldeb yn cael eu torri’n gyson gan ddangos nawr, yn fwy nag erioed, mae pobl yn gwylio chwaraeon menywod.
Mae rygbi yn gamp sydd wedi’i gwreiddio yn niwylliant Cymru. Mae Cymru wedi bod yn ganolog i ddatblygiad rygbi menywod fel bod yn wlad sy’n cynnal Cwpan y Byd cyntaf i Ferched yn 1991. Yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, bu cwymp o’r brig. Mae gêm ryngwladol y dynion wedi bod yn cael trafferth cyrraedd y lefel yr oedd yn arfer ei wneud, ac mae hyn wedi effeithio ar y gymuned Gymreig fel rydyn ni’n ei hadnabod. Mae Undeb
Rygbi Cymru yn bwriadu newid strwythur presennol y pedwar clwb i dri a fydd yn cael effaith negyddol ar gefnogaeth y gêm o ardaloedd lleol i’r llwyfan rhyngwladol. Fodd bynnag, yr hyn nad ydych chi’n ei weld yw bod y cynnig hwn hefyd yn cynnwys dau dîm merched newydd a fydd yn cystadlu ar lefel uchel yn y gynghrair. Mae hyn yn hanfodol i’r datblygiad pellach a’r gefnogaeth i newid yng Nghymru drwy dynnu mwy o sylw at y gêm broffesiynol i ferched. Nod y cyhoeddiad hwn yw dod â mwy o sgwrs a chefnogaeth i ddyfodol rygbi merched. Rygbi yw camp genedlaethol Cymru, mae’n bwysig wrth i’r byd rygbi barhau i symud ymlaen, bod Cymru yn symud gyda hi.
Final Message
Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout the course of this project. My friends and family, associates of Cardiff RFC, the staff of BA Photography at the University of South Wales, Whitchurch Ladies, USW Women’s Rugby, Nelson Belles U14s, Senghenydd Sirens, Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning from the Celtic Challenge Cup, and finally the members of staff at the Welsh Rugby Union alongside the international women’s squad.
In memory of John Garrett, Taid, who passed earlier this year. His love for Wales and rugby will be remembered.
Neges Derfynol
Diolch i bawb sydd wedi fy nghefnogi trwy gydol y prosiect hwn. Mae hyn yn cynnwys, fy ffrindiau a’m teulu, cymdeithion Clwb Rygbi Caerdydd, staff BA Ffotograffiaeth ym Mhrifysgol De Cymru, Merched yr Eglwys Newydd, Rygbi Merched PDC, Nelson Belles dan 14, Senghenydd Sirens, Brython Thunder a Gwalia Lightning o Gwpan Her Celtaidd, ac yn olaf aelodau staff Undeb Rygbi Cymru ochr yn ochr â’r garfan ryngwladol i ferched.
Er cof am John Garrett, Taid, a fu farw yn gynharach eleni. Bydd ei gariad at Gymru a rygbi yn cael ei gofio.
Title: YOU PLAY LIKE A GIRL
Design and Text and Image Copyright © 2026 Cicely Jackson
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrival system or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publishers.
Printed by: Abbey Book Binding With special thanks to the University of South Wales
Published: May 2026