Special updated 2025 edition of the critically acclaimed and Sports Book Awards-shortlisted Scrum Queens: The Story of Women's Rugby.

By Alison Donnelly, one of women's rugby's most authoritative voices and founder of Scrumqueens.com.

This innovative book charts the fascinating journey of women's rugby, from widespread social disapproval to the modern era of Olympic recognition and professionalism. Read and you will discover:

• All the major moments in the history of the women's game, from groundbreaking matches during the war, to the first World Cup in 1991 and a momentous first appearance for women's rugby at the 2016 Olympics
• Stories of the pioneers who fought to get the game played in its earliest days, like New Zealand's Nita Webbe and France's Henry Flechon as well as the more modern-day drivers of the game, like England's Carol Isherwood
• The success and heroics of the sport's top players and teams, exploring New Zealand's dominance of the game at every level alongside their long-time rivalry with England, plus the more recent successes of teams such as Ireland and Fiji, and the rise of the sevens game and its impact on women's rugby
• Updated chapters including the story of the World Cup in 2022 (which was won in the dying moments in front of a record crowd by New Zealand), the 2024 Olympics in Paris (which included a breakout moment for rugby's first female global superstar Ilona Maher), plus further progress in the professionalisation of the women's game

Scrum Queens is a must-read for any fan of rugby, women's sport or first-class sport-history writing.

About the Author

Ali Donnelly is considered one of women's rugby's most credible and authoritative voices. She has written extensively about the game for titles including Rugby World Magazine, the Guardian, Times, Sunday Times, RTE, BBC and the Irish Examiner. She founded and edits the women's rugby website Scrumqueens.com and was awarded a special honour by the UK's Rugby Writers group for her contribution to the game.

Awards
Short-listed for British Sports Book of the Year Award 2023 (UK).



Book Information
ISBN 9781836802211
Author Ali Donnelly
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint Pitch Publishing Ltd
Publisher Pitch Publishing Ltd