(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Becomes First Colour Blind-Friendly Tournament
As the quarter-final picture of the Women’s Rugby World Cup (WRWC) 2025 begins to take shape this weekend, the tournament is also marking World Colour Blind Awareness Day (6 September) with a groundbreaking achievement in sports inclusivity.
England 2025 has been hailed as the most accessible and inclusive Rugby World Cup to date. For the first time, a Rugby World Cup is fully colour blind-friendly, following the World Rugby Colour Blindness in Rugby guidelines, which became official policy for all World Rugby events this year.
Why This Matters
Globally, an estimated 300 million people live with Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD), often struggling to distinguish certain colour combinations. This can affect daily life and even the ability to enjoy sports.
In rugby, where quick recognition of kits, training bibs, and on-field safety situations is critical, the adoption of colour blind-friendly practices ensures that players, referees, coaches, and fans with CVD can fully participate without confusion or risk.
Tackling Kit Colour Clashes
Back in 2021, World Rugby partnered with Colour Blind Awareness (CBA) to publish detailed guidelines on avoiding kit colour clashes. For WRWC 2025, organisers worked closely with participating unions and CBA to select kit combinations with sufficient contrast, ensuring matches are clearer and safer for everyone.
Kathryn Albany-Ward, Founder of Colour Blind Awareness, praised the milestone:
“It is fantastic to see World Rugby’s colour blindness guidance move into full effect at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. Fans, players, referees, and coaching staff with CVD can now follow matches confidently, helping to grow the game further.”
Accessibility at the Heart of Planning
Sarah Massey, Rugby World Cup 2025 Managing Director, emphasized that accessibility has been central to the planning process:
“From the start, we set out for Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 to raise standards on and off the field. By partnering with teams and Colour Blind Awareness, we are proud to deliver the first Rugby World Cup fully compliant with the Colour Blindness policy, ensuring inclusivity for all.”
A Step Forward for Global Sport
The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 is not just delivering exciting rugby action but also setting new standards for sports accessibility and inclusivity worldwide. By eliminating colour-based barriers, it ensures that rugby remains a sport truly for everyone.
