When the Red Roses lifted the trophy at the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final, they did so on a pitch entirely prepared by an all-female team – a first in the history of the sport.
Brought together by the Grounds Management Association (GMA), this team of 15 women had complete ownership of pitch preparation, taking full responsibility for delivering the playing surface, making key decisions, and setting a new standard for what a collaborative, inclusive approach to grounds management can achieve.
These trailblazing women oversaw every detail as the Allianz Stadium team stepped back, empowering them to make independent decisions and showcase their expertise. The result was a world-class pitch that allowed players to perform at their absolute best, contributing to the high quality of play and the Red Roses’ incredible victory.
“This project gave us the freedom to try things, make decisions, and trust our instincts,” said Liddy Ford, a member of the group’s leadership team. “It was empowering to know that every choice we made, from how we prepared the surface to how we presented it on matchday, had a direct impact on the game. Seeing the players lift the trophy on a pitch we delivered was an amazing moment.”
As the tournament concluded, the team left with a shared commitment to work together to raise the profile of women in grounds management, to encourage more women to join this sector, and to ensure opportunities like this continue to grow.