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By John O’Sullivan
Connacht Rugby fully supports and endorses the 20x20 programme.
20x20 was founded and developed by the creative agency Along Came A Spider in 2018. It aims to highlight the range and breadth of Irish females involved in sport and sets out to forge a tangible cultural shift in the perception of women’s sport so that it will be seen as something strong, valuable, and worth celebrating.
The campaign calls on the people of Ireland and all those involved in Irish sport and physical activity to get behind female sport in a concerted effort to increase media coverage, boost attendances, and ultimately, grow participation in female sport and physical activity by 20% by the end of 2020.
The 20x20 movement has made a telling difference since its launch. Research from Nielsen Sports found that 59% of Irish people believe that the media should do more to promote female sport, with 57% wanting more equality in female and male sporting role models in media. In addition, 63% of people would like to see Ireland’s sportswomen become national heroes in the same way as our sportsmen. In terms of online and print media, the coverage of women’s sport has grown by 50% in the last two years.
Connacht Rugby’s Domestic Rugby Manager Joe Gorham has encouraged all clubs in the province to sign the 20x20 charter, which will copperfasten the commitment to equality for girls and women in sport in their areas. The initiative syncs with Connacht’s values of inclusivity and participation.
“The 20x20 Movement perfectly aligns itself to Connacht Rugby's recently launched “Women of The West” 2023 strategy where “Integration not Segregation” is our primary objective for the female game in Connacht.
The female game in Connacht has witnessed unprecedented growth over the past couple of seasons with 21 Clubs now catering for the female game. The growth in Min & Youth girls rugby will stand hugely to the province in the years to come. We, at Connacht Club & Community, sincerely hope to see the 20x20 flag flying proudly in our 21 clubs in the near future,” he said.
The 20x20 founder, Sarah Colgan, says that the support of Connacht Rugby, as one of Ireland's most recognisable sporting brands, is a huge boost for the initiative.
“It’s absolutely huge,” Colgan said of Connacht’s support of the 20x20 programme.
“A name and a brand that is so well established and ingrained in Irish sport like Connacht Rugby is massive(in supporting 20x20). It’s so important because it’s covering the grassroots level and it’s covering the higher levels of professionalism. It’s key because it’s bringing along both men and women. 20x20 has never been just ‘women for women’, it’s always been all of society for all of society.”
For more information and to sign the club charter please visit www.20x20.ie
