English Rugby: Contrasting perceptions of the men's and women's games

• Almost 3 in 10 adults describe themselves as fans of men’s rugby. This is more than double the proportion of fans of women’s rugby
• Men perceived to have better results on the pitch
• One in three English rugby fans believe the men’s team have had greater social impact compared to just under a quarter (23%) for the women’s team

According to recent survey from Ipsos Observer, there are contrasting perceptions among English rugby fans regarding skill levels in the England men's and women's rugby union teams. The survey reveals that 44% of English male rugby fans believe the England men's team has displayed better skills, while 30% of English female fans share this belief.

Moreover, the survey shows that 39% of all English rugby fans consider the England men's team to have better skills, compared to 19% who hold the same view for the English women's team. These statistics highlight the differing opinions and preferences within the rugby community, emphasizing the impact of gender on fans' perceptions of skill levels in the sport.

Almost one in three adults consider themselves fans of men's rugby compared to women's rugby. 28% of adults say they are fans of men's rugby, a relatively sizable following, while only 13% identify as fans of women's rugby, indicating a comparatively smaller but still significant fan base.

A third of English rugby fans (34%) believe that the men's team has achieved better results on the pitch, compared to 27% who hold the same view for the women's team. These findings shed light on the differing perceptions among rugby fans regarding the success of both teams in terms of on-field performance.

One in three rugby fans (33%) believe that the men's team has made a more significant social impact whereas one in four (23%) believe that the women's team has. A further quarter (27%) think they both had an equally social impact.

Peter Cooper, Director and rugby fan in Ipsos Observer, said:

The perception gap regarding skills and social impact between the men's and women's game in rugby is still apparent, as demonstrated by this research. It is intriguing to consider how these attributes will be influenced by the performance and behaviours both on and off the pitch at the Rugby World Cup, and if they progress, how will this impact this gap.

Technical note

Ipsos Observer interviewed a representative quota sample of 2,188 adults aged 18-75 in Great Britain. Interviews took place on the Ipsos online Omnibus 7th – 11th July 2023. The data has been weighted to the known offline population proportions to reflect the adult population of the United Kingdom.