Women's Rugby set to soar

Australia's Women won the first ever Olympic gold for 7's rugby. Will they inspire a change in women's rugby?

Three days of some of the most enjoyable rugby I have ever watched. I have waited 7 years for the Olympic 7's - since it's announcement - and the first three days of the Women's tournament was everything I had wished for.

The support from around the globe for the women's game was exceptional, moments from the games were being talked about on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr. There are already scores of videos on Youtube of the best tries. The heartbreaking emotional haka performed by the New Zealand team after their final defeat has gone completely viral, showing just how much the games meant to these players. The Olympics has been viewed for a while now as a real chance for Women's rugby to take off and succeed as a sport. Often forgotten in terms of funding from the national unions and the support offered to women and girls wanting to partake in the sport limited as best.

Emily Scarratt wanted to inspire a generation of women.

Take England for example, the richest and largest rugby union on the planet and have been for many years. Even they were slow to provide funds to the women's game, even after a home world cup and lifting the trophy itself. Professional contracts were only dolled out two years ago, and even then just to players plying their trade in the Olympic worthy version of the game. Shortly before the Olympics kicked off it was announced that finally they would be offering fully professional contracts to the 15-a-side game in the wake of the huge cash revenue of the World Cup a year ago. Despite this progress
there is still work to be done to boost the female game.

All unions - not just England - have a problem with retaining players, let alone finding them. Every year dozens of young girls have to give up a sport they've been playing for years simply because Union legislation says boys and girls can't play together at the age of 15. It's an understandable rule, the growth changes during puberty could lead to injuries and other issues, but the fact that these girls are left out in the cold is pretty unforgivable. Most women's teams can't or won't take on players below 18, due to safety concerns of playing fully grown adults, and university sides which make up a large portion of the available places for women to play are only available to 18+ students. So for three years girls who love the sport and are wanting to grow up to be like Caslick, McAlister or

Kayla McAlister was one of the stars of the tournament.

Scarrett are left without coaching; without training; and without the knowledge they need to develop.

No nation that competed at the Olympic games can afford to let this opportunity go to waste. I have seen plenty of women of all ages find a passion for the sport and a willingness to take up the oval ball, simply because of the success of the 7-a-side game. The passion for the game is there to be tapped, but unions need to provide funding and a realistic amateur system to get these women into the game. Money is the over arching issue in any sport, if the funds can be found to develop proper facilities, allow good quality coaches to coach the teams, and give a progression for women of all ages to participate in this wonderful sport.

For so long the tag line for rugby has been "Sport for all shapes and sizes", I just hope soon it can be realistically for all genders in four years time as well.