World Rugby Extends Online Protection Against Abuse for 2025 Women's World Cup

World Rugby is extending its partnership with Signify Group to provide enhanced online abuse protection for all players, coaches, and match officials at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. This initiative builds on a service first implemented during the 2023 Men’s World Cup and will now support the women’s game as part of World Rugby’s broader 'Impact Beyond 2025' program. Research cited by World Rugby highlights that female participants are 30% more likely to suffer online abuse than their male counterparts, with the UK identified as the largest originator of such abuse. The Signify Threat Matrix service will proactively monitor social media, flagging and reporting abusive content, and supporting real-world actions such as fines, bans, or even criminal prosecution where warranted. World Rugby leaders emphasize that the initiative is both a response to growing online hate and a proactive step to foster respect, safety, and inclusivity as the tournament is expected to draw unprecedented attention. The service will also continue to cover match officials in both men’s and women’s competitions through 2026.