New research shows that young women eager to take up rugby are being deterred by the shortage of female participants. Just 6% of girls aged 8 to 25 currently participate in rugby, with 86% having never attempted the sport and 36% stating they would be more inclined to play if they witnessed greater female involvement, the study reveals. Additionally, 43% of those surveyed indicated that this summer's women's sporting events had motivated them to explore a new sport. Mastercard is hosting complimentary introductory rugby sessions featuring rugby legends Maggie Alphonsi, Shaunagh Brown, Dan Carter and Bryan Habana at Style of Our Own on Regent Street during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 to encourage girls to "Give Rugby a Try". Charlie Carrington, Senior Vice President, Integrated Marketing and Communications at Mastercard UK and Ireland, commented: "The Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 is a powerful opportunity to introduce more girls to rugby and inspire the next generation of players and fans. Our 'Give Rugby a Try' campaign harnesses this moment, bringing girls closer to their passions, enabling them to meet sporting heroes, and giving them the confidence to get involved.", reports the Mirror . "We hope this will help spark a lifelong love for rugby in them and a sense of belonging, whether they'll be cheering from the stands, scoring tries on the pitch or having fun with friends who love the game too." Maggie Alphonsi MBE, former England rugby player, commented: "I know first-hand how rugby can transform lives. It teaches resilience, teamwork and self-belief which can be applied to anything you do. Mastercard helping to get more girls to pick up a ball during this tournament will not just build future players, but future leaders too." Shaunagh Brown, another former England rugby player, added: "The Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 is more than a tournament, it's a chance to change perceptions and open doors. I didn't grow up thinking rugby was for me, but once I found it, it gave me a voice, a community, and the confidence to take on any challenge in front of me. If we can get young women to give it a try now, we can create a generation of champions."