Leadership Lessons from the Women’s World Cup of Rugby.
I remember years ago, trying to convince my daughter to try rugby. She'd outgrown soccer, and my wife and I were keen for her to stay active. Having done Tae Kwon Do, she was no stranger to contact sports, but she reluctantly agreed to give rugby a shot.
That first practice was a brutal introduction. Cold, wet, and utterly clueless, neither of us knew anything about the game. She didn't know a soul on the co-ed team, where most boys seemed seasoned veterans and the girls were mostly newbies. During a water break, she came over, frustrated, and declared she wanted to quit. I wouldn't let her, and by the end of practice, she'd made a few connections with the other girls, enough to come back.
The first few games weren't much better. Her lack of knowledge and skills relegated her to a less involved position, but those budding friendships kept frustration at bay (and the post-game ice cream certainly helped!).
Then came the turning point. About a third of the way through the season, during a practice scrimmage, the coaches decided to pit the boys against the girls. The girls weren't thrilled; the boys had more experience and skill. Then, one boy uttered those fateful words: "This is going to be easy." My daughter and a few other girls heard him, and in an instant, their body language and attitudes transformed. What boys at that age often overlook is that girls are often faster and stronger than they are. The boys learned that lesson quickly. My daughter, passive until then, suddenly unleashed her untapped strength and confidence. Everything changed. In the next practice, her coaches shifted her to a position with more responsibility, allowing her to truly showcase her skills.
The rest, as they say, is history. Rugby is now a fundamental part of my daughter's identity. It's gifted her confidence, resilience, laughter, joy, tears, friendship, leadership, and a profound sense of community. As she transitioned from co-ed kids' rugby to girls' and women's rugby, she found a family of players (current and former), coaches, officials, volunteers, and fans who, in my opinion, all embody the strongest values of leadership.
Naturally, my daughter and I were fervent supporters of Team Canada at the recent Women's Rugby World Cup in England. Here are some observations I gained from watching and cheering on Team Canada.
The Players: Rugby is a collision sport—brutal and at times, difficult to watch due to its sheer physicality. Yet, it can also be an artistic and beautiful ballet as players move in synchronous harmony, reacting to the game's rapid shifts. Players need lightning-fast reflexes, the ability to know when to slow down and reset, and the agility to transition seamlessly between offense and defense and back again. Each player is responsible for their position, yet constantly covering and supporting teammates. Success hinges less on individual talent and more on cooperation and team coordination. Everyone needs to pass, catch, run, tackle, and kick, but each position demands specialization: some tackle more, some sprint faster, some kick more often, and some, seemingly quiet for much of the game, prove absolutely critical when needed. Team success is contingent on players uniting as one, sacrificing personal goals for collective triumphs. Watching the Women's World Cup, I saw players from every nation demonstrate something even more profound than their own success or their team's. Their ancillary actions—fan interactions, the respect shown to opponents and officials, their authentic engagement with media—weren't just about the sport; they were about what rugby meant to them. The purpose and passion these players exhibited on and off the field stemmed not from the game itself, but from what the game had forged within them as individuals.
The Coaches: During the World Cup, the coaches' behaviour fascinated me. TV broadcasts often showed clips of them mid-game. Head coaches, typically in the booth, sat intently, often sipping coffee or tea, betraying little emotion beyond a subtle, quick fist pump. While clearly engaged, they acted as if their immediate actions weren't critical to overall team success. They muted the usual outward signs we see from coaches in other high-performance sports, as if channeling their energy directly into their players. Player success was paramount; their focus was on creating future conditions for victory, not reacting to past game events. The present moment was important, but they clearly understood their greatest value lay in shaping the future.
The Officials: Some of the most entertaining aspects of the World Cup were the interactions between players and officials. Each game featured a referee, two assistant referees, and an off-field assistant referee for video review. Firstly, player and coach interactions with officials are strictly controlled by specific behavioural norms and the rules of the sport. Only on-field captains can approach the referee, and only after seeking permission. Rugby's rules and culture foster mutual respect between players and officials. When an issue arises, the referee often stops play, calls over the captain or involved players, clearly communicates what happened, and most importantly, explains what needs to be corrected, how, and the consequences if it isn't. In one instance, I saw an official go a step further: as a player moved into position for the next play, the referee was there to help them set up correctly. And when the player successfully demonstrated the desired outcome, the referee acknowledged it. Rugby truly understands the role of officials: to ensure the game is played safely, respectfully, and competitively.
Other Odds and Ends: Several other unique features of rugby struck me as having leadership connections. First, penalties. When a penalty occurs, the referee allows the non-offending team to continue with the play. They're given the advantage to gain progress, and if they fail, the play stops, and the penalty is enforced. This gives the non-offending team control over when and if the penalty is applied. They can immediately end the play and reset their offense, or they can attempt a higher-risk play to gain territory or score, knowing that if it fails, they'll still get a chance to reset at the point of the infraction. The most intriguing part is that the referee clearly communicates the advantage without stopping play. If a penalty is severe enough ("cynical play"), the offending player is sent to the "sin bin"—removed from the field to sit alone for 10 minutes (12.5% of the game). While there, the infraction is further reviewed by the off-field referee to determine if a more severe consequence, like removal from the game, is needed. What's truly fascinating is how the offending player is isolated due to their actions, and then, how they are welcomed back. I witnessed many occasions where, after the 10-minute penalty, the player returned to the field and was embraced by their teammates. Seemingly communicating empathy, understanding, and forgiveness simultaneously. And recognizing that the team is better off with them then without them.
My final observation is that success wasn't solely measured by the final score. Rugby is competitive, and ultimately, the score matters. But we all know that if the score were the only metric, fewer people would play. In the semi-final between Canada and New Zealand, the announcer discussed the number of "phases" the teams were having. My wife and I asked our daughter what this meant. She explained that phases are the number of continuous plays between each breakdown. Essentially, it measures a team's ability to continuously restart play without turning over the ball. In other words, it measures the ability to control play through communication, coordination, and cooperation, maximizing scoring opportunities.
What can organizational leaders learn from the Women's Rugby World Cup?
Employees must demonstrate all core competencies for organizational success.
Matching employee strengths to roles is vital for high performance.
Employee and organizational success hinges on cooperation, communication, and coordination not individual effort.
Work should be more meaningful than just the actions and people involved.
Competitors aren't enemies; we're all playing the same game.
Supervisors and decision-makers should constantly prepare their teams for an unpredictable future.
Supervisors' and decision-makers' energy and focus belong on their teams' success.
How rules are enforced reveals an organization's true values.
Poor behaviour and performance require consequences, but future team success remains paramount.
Measure how your team starts, restarts, and maintains continuity to create opportunities.
If you missed the Women's World Cup of Rugby, I urge you to watch some matches. In my opinion, women's rugby is one of the most inclusive and supportive organizations in the country. While the sport certainly has areas for improvement, as long as it continues to uphold its values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline, and respect, it will thrive. The Women's World Cup of Rugby exemplified these values throughout the tournament, within each game, among every team, and by every player. We have so much to learn from these incredible athletes, coaches, and officials.
