Mothers in Rugby: How the Sport is Changing for Pregnant Athletes

Two England Women's Rugby World Cup winners, Lark Atkin-Davies and Abbie Ward, discuss how motherhood in rugby is evolving and changing the narrative around pregnant athletes in the sport. Both are among four World Cup-winning players who have experienced pregnancy while maintaining their rugby careers.

The landscape of professional rugby is undergoing a significant transformation as female athletes navigate motherhood while competing at the highest levels. Lark Atkin-Davies and Abbie Ward, both World Cup winners with England's Women's Rugby team, are at the forefront of this cultural shift, sharing their experiences about how the sport is adapting to support pregnant athletes and mothers.

During their tenure with the England Women's Rugby team, both players achieved the pinnacle of sporting success by winning the Rugby World Cup. Now, as part of a group of four World Cup-winning players who have experienced pregnancy, they are helping to reshape perceptions about what it means to be a mother in professional rugby. Their willingness to speak openly about their journeys has contributed to breaking down stigmas and misconceptions that previously surrounded motherhood in the sport.

The evolution reflects broader changes within rugby organizations, including improved maternity policies, flexible training schedules, and greater recognition of the challenges athletes face when balancing parenthood with elite competition. Both players emphasize that their contributions to changing the narrative go beyond their individual achievements-they are actively helping other mothers in rugby feel supported and valued within their teams and the broader sporting community.

According to Atkin-Davies and Ward, the gratitude they receive from other mothers demonstrates the real impact of visibility and representation in professional sports. By openly discussing their experiences, they have helped normalize motherhood as part of an athlete's life rather than an obstacle to overcome. This cultural shift represents progress not only for rugby but for women's sports more broadly, as organizations increasingly recognize that supporting mothers benefits both the athletes and the sport itself.

The ongoing conversations between current and former players continue to influence policy decisions and cultural attitudes within English rugby, creating pathways for future generations of mothers to pursue their sporting ambitions without having to choose between parenthood and their careers.