The 2025 Rugby World Cup has officially kicked off, and as the tournament moves into the next round, it is already proving to be a record-breaking spectacle. Beyond the powerful scrums and game-winning tries, another story is unfolding on and off the pitch: one of love, inclusivity, and the vibrant queer community thriving within the sport. This World Cup is not just about who lifts the trophy; it’s a testament to how “queer” rugby truly is, reflecting a growing acceptance and celebration of LGBTQ+ identities on the world stage.
As I’ve been working on this piece, I’ve had the immense privilege of collaborating with New Zealand based rugby journalist and content creator Alice Soper and her fiancée Bailey, who have been shining a light on queer representation at the World Cup through a series of powerful social media posts and data gathering. Their research reveals a stunning landscape of queer representation: an average of 40.2% of players at the World Cup identify as queer, with some nations boasting over half their squad. This is a powerful collective, with over 200 queer players taking the field, proving that rugby is a welcoming space for all.
About the Data: This research relies on information gathered from publicly available social media platforms. For all specific players and relationships mentioned by name, their information was confirmed directly by the athletes themselves. This ensures that no one was outed without their explicit consent.
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This level of representation stands in stark contrast to the men’s game. To date, there has never been a publicly out gay or bisexual player active in a men’s Rugby World Cup or Olympic sevens tournament. While previous media reports have celebrated the visibility of LGBTQ+ players at the women’s rugby sevens tournaments at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, our extensive research reveals an even greater number of publicly out athletes, far exceeding what was previously reported.
A Record-Breaking Kickoff and a Message to the Community
The excitement for this tournament has been palpable. The opening round alone saw over 85,000 fans attend matches, with a record-breaking crowd of 42,723 packing the Stadium of Light to watch the hosts England take on the USA. These historic attendance figures, along with millions of viewers tuning in and 77 million video views online, prove that the world is watching and the hunger for the women’s game is stronger than ever.
For the LGBTQ community, representation matters, and this tournament provides powerful examples of love and commitment. With 12 of the 16 participating nations having introduced equal marriage over the last two decades, there are plenty of examples of engagements and marriages to same-sex partners within the squads.
Engaged and Teammates: Love on the Field
Imagine stepping onto the world’s biggest stage, not only with your teammates but with your fiancé by your side. This World Cup is seeing several couples sharing the same colors, navigating the intensity of competition as both lovers and teammates. This unique dynamic fosters an unparalleled level of support and understanding.
The USA duo Alev Kelter and Kathryn Treder are both fiancées and teammates, their shared journey in the national squad undoubtedly strengthened by their personal bond. England’s vice-captain Marlie Packer’s proposal was accepted by her teammate, second row Rosie Galligan, just this past June. Their Red Roses teammates Sarah Bern and Mackenzie Carson are also in a long-term relationship. Bern and Carson spoke to the media about the experience of playing on opposing sides in the Premiership Women’s Rugby semifinals, a testament to how these athletes navigate both personal and professional rivalries, and how their shared journey in the World Cup will now be even more special.
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Love Across the Lines: When Rivals Are Romances
The World Cup also offers the compelling narrative of love transcending national colors. Competing fiercely on the field, these couples then return to a shared life, their love a testament to a respect and understanding that bridges any sporting rivalry.
One of the most powerful examples is that of Claudia and Clíodhna MacDonald-Moloney. The couple, who celebrated their wedding in May, are now playing for England and Ireland respectively. Their teams are in different pools, so a potential matchup is still a future possibility, but it highlights the layers of connection that run through the tournament.
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While an anticipated cross-team matchup between the USA’s Charli Jacoby and the Wallaroos’ Lori Cramer did not occur this weekend, their partnership still highlights the unique challenge of a relationship that spans rival nations. These matchups provide an extra layer of intrigue, where post-match embraces carry a deeper meaning than mere sportsmanship.
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Growing Families, Growing Inclusivity
The celebration extends beyond the pitch to the growing families nurtured by these athletes. LGBTQ parents taking part in the tournament include Marlie Packer, Wales prop Donna Rose, France’s Agathe Sochat, and New Zealand legend Kelly Brazier. In addition, France’s Pauline Bourdon Sansus and her wife Laure Bourdon Sansus (also not at the WC) recently welcomed a baby. Meanwhile, Wales’s Jasmine Joyce and her wife Alisha Butchers (who is not at the World Cup) are currently expecting their first child. These stories powerfully illustrate that queer athletes are not just excelling in their sport but also building rich, fulfilling lives and families, challenging traditional narratives about professional athletes.
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Role Models and The Road Ahead
Among the many inspiring players, England’s center Meg Jones stands out as an outstanding LGBTQ role model. Jones and her partner, Celia Quansah, played together at the Tokyo Olympics and have co-authored a children’s book titled “Meg & Celia: Rugby Stars.” This kind of visibility is crucial in normalizing queer relationships and inspiring the next generation.
However, the path to global inclusion is not without challenges. Some nations face significant hurdles. Fiji is one of two remaining participating nations with no publicly out LGBTQ players. This follows a difficult period for the union, with the newly appointed women’s Director of Rugby, Laijipa Naulivou, being sacked after just four days for claiming there was a “gay problem” in the current team. Japan also has no publicly out players on our list. Japan does not provide national legal protections for LGBTQ people.
On the other hand, it’s wonderful to be able to add to our list of publicly out players. Samoa, for example, now has one out player, Ana-Lise Sio, who is open about her sexuality on TikTok, demonstrating how personal visibility can make a powerful difference in representation.
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While our research relies on publicly shared information, confirmation from the athletes, and acknowledges the limitations of privacy and safety in certain countries, the overwhelming data and the on-field action from the first round paint a clear and hopeful picture. This Rugby World Cup is more than a tournament; it is a vibrant celebration of diversity, resilience, and unapologetic love. It’s a powerful message to young queer athletes everywhere: you belong here, your love is valid, and you can achieve your dreams while being authentically yourself.
This is cool. Congrats on an amazing article. Is there any chance of connecting? I am Wallaroo 19 currently promoting my self published book about the history of our women’s rugby in Australia. I am also Queer, identifying in my book as gay and naming the three female partners whom I have shared my life thus far aged 53years (one was also a Wallaroo team mate and forward pack buddy from the first 1994 international side and from my same local rugby club in Canberra but sadly now deceased), the 2nd was also a female rugby player from Qld whom I met at a tournament in Sydney and ended up spending 23yrs of my life with (and sharing my international rugby career alongside from world cups x 4 to international matches in the 7s and 15s arena)). I am also the biological mother of four sons – happy to throw up the mummy story of you need a gay female advocate (that was not IVF). I am also in town and happy to meet up or chat. You can check out my book or website at libbyandrew.com.au