Twickenham will witness history today (Saturday, 27 September) when for the first time ever, an all-female grounds team prepares the pitch for the Women's Rugby World Cup Final and bronze medal match at Allianz Stadium.

The groundbreaking team of 15, brought together by the Grounds Management Association (GMA) in partnership with England Rugby and Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, will showcase the skills of pioneering female pitch professionals from across sport and education.

Among those making up the "15 behind the 15" are:

• Meg Lay (27) – the first female grounds team member at Lord's Cricket Ground
• Liddy Ford (27) – the first female member of the Wembley Stadium grounds team
• Cheryl Hill (53) – Leicester Tigers' longest-serving staff member

The initiative aims to shine a spotlight on female talent in grounds management and inspire more women to consider careers in the sector.

This year's tournament has already broken records, selling three times more tickets than the last Women's World Cup in New Zealand.

The Twickenham final is expected to become the most attended women's rugby match in history.

Women's grassroots rugby is also booming. Sport England data shows that adult female participation in England has more than doubled in under a decade, growing from around 25,000 players in 2017 to over 60,000 by 2025.

Almost half of the UK's groundspeople are aged 45–64, with around 1,500 retiring every year.

Yet less than 10% of the professional workforce is female, a gap the GMA hopes to close.

(Left to right) Meg Lay, Liddy Ford, Jen Carter, Beth Gibbs at Twickenham (credit: GMA).

Jen Carter, who leads communications and marketing at the GMA, has been pivotal in making this historic event happen.

She said: "The growth of women's sport is incredible, and the contribution of grounds teams can't be overlooked.

"From grassroots to the World Cup, their hard work and dedication make sport possible.

"But we need more women and girls to consider a career in grounds management. Without it, the growth of women's sport could be held back.

"Everyone involved in this event is proud to be part of history. The team is looking forward to creating the perfect pitch for the showpiece matches, as well as inspiring more women and girls to get involved – showing that if you can see it, you can be it.

"Grounds management is for everyone. Our aim is that in the future, women in grounds teams isn't news – it's the norm."

Sarah Massey, Managing Director of Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, added: "From the very beginning we wanted to use the power of this tournament to empower real change off the pitch and provide a platform of opportunity for women and underrepresented groups.

"Bringing together an all-female grounds team is one of the initiatives that represents the lasting change we want to see in our industry."

To learn more about careers in grounds management, visit GMA's website here.

READ MORE: Lexi Chambers sets off on epic 322-mile journey from Twickenham for Women's Rugby World Cup.

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