Jacqui Lambie backs women’s rugby push ahead of France World Cup

Outspoken senator Jacqui Lambie has called on the nation’s women sports stars to give their male counterparts “a bit of a slapping”, as female players in one popular Australian sporting code claim their future “hangs in the balance”.

Australia’s women’s rugby team took to social media to call out Rugby Australia for a lack of investment and promotion in the female code after video surfaced online of the men’s team and their families flying business class.

The open letter, which was posted by Wallaroos players, criticised the sporting body’s decision ahead of the 2023 France World Cup and amid calls for pay parity after the Matildas’ success at the FIFA World Cup.

Senator Jacqui Lambie told the Today show on Monday that the Matildas’ success had “elevated” the country, and she urged women’s sports stars across the country to demand more from their respective sporting bodies.

“A lot of women‘s sports are coming out and coming out harder, (but) some of them don‘t even have change rooms,” Senator Lambie said.

“The PM has given them $100m, (but) I don’t think that will get close putting out there what needs to be invested in women’s sport.

“You go hard you women, go out there and show them your might. Give those men a bit of a slapping.”

Wallaroos star Arabella McKenzie was critical of Rugby Australia‘s decision to fly the men’s team to France business class, writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the “future of our games” hangs in the balance.

“You told us flying anything beyond economy was too costly,” the open letter posted by McKenzie and others on Sunday stated.

“Then, you flew the Wallabies business class on a trip shorter than ours.

“You told us full-time contracts were in the pipeline, that there wasn’t enough money to keep the men in the game, let alone us.

“Then, you paid $5 million for an NRL player.

“You continually say we don’t have resources and yet we all saw the World Cup send-off for the Wallabies.”

The letter stated that the impact of women’s sports on the Australian sporting landscape had become obvious thanks to the Matildas.

“It’s time for the chairman, board, and CEO to prioritise the future of Women‘s Rugby and allocate adequate resources,” the letter stated.

“It’s time to acknowledge that we are not promoted equally, even on a free platform.

“The future of our games hangs in the balance. It’s your move, Rugby Australia.”

The plea was made simultaneously by almost every Wallaroos team member who issued the same demands on their own social media.

Senior forward Sera Naiqama shared the plea on Sunday with the caption: “Well-behaved women seldom make history.”

Former rugby player and Nine commentator Allana Ferguson told the same show on Monday that the players were “fed up”.

“What the Matildas have shown us all what women‘s sport with do and how it can positively affect our nation,” she said.

“They are upset and fed up with the way they’ve been treated and they want a change within their sport.”

Ferguson described the treatment of the men’s team ahead of the French World Cup as being the “tipping point” for the women’s team.

“All the women are asking for is equality with training, with their access, how they are being treated,” she said.

“And, how they are being shown to the rest of Australia. They want more out of their sport and for their sport.

“They’ve been asking for it for a very long time and fair enough. So they should have that kind of access.

“It‘s all timing. I guess what the Matildas have done, it’s a really positive platform for players and different sports to launch off.

“They feel it’s their time to get more recognition from Rugby Australia themselves into their sport into the grassroots and women‘s rugby.”

The Wallabies will battle to hold onto the Rugby World Cup title in France after both the men’s and women’s teams took home the 2022 gong.

Australia is set to host the women’s tournament in 2029 that has garnered renewed focus following the successful FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Matildas finished fourth in the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup last week following back-to-back loses against England and Sweden.

The team’s semi-final against England drew as many as 11 million viewers, sparking fresh conversations about pay and resource parity.