All-female grounds team make history at Women’s Rugby World Cup Final
For the second time in as many years, history will be made on the pitch, but by the team preparing it.
On Saturday 27 September, an all-female team of 15 grounds professionals will take charge of the pitch at Allianz Stadium ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final and bronze medal match. It marks the first time in rugby history that a women-only grounds team has prepared the surface for a showpiece global final.
Brought together by the Grounds Management Association (GMA), along with England Rugby and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, the 15 behind the 15 will feature pioneering pitch professionals and volunteers from some of sport’s most iconic venues, from Wimbledon and Wembley to Lord’s, Leicester Tigers, UK Ryder Cup Venue, The Belfry and Ipswich Town FC – as well as leading schools and colleges.
The landmark initiative aims to spotlight female talent in grounds management and inspire more women to consider careers in the sector. It follows the landmark moment at the Emirates Stadium in March 2024, when the first-ever all-female grounds team prepared the pitch for Arsenal vs Tottenham in the Women’s Super League.
The move shines a light on both opportunity and challenge in the sector. The latest GMA industry data shows 77.5% of head grounds managers feel recruitment is the biggest challenge facing the industry. Almost half of groundspeople are aged 45–64, and around 1,500 retire every year. Women are key to closing the employment gap but currently make up less than 10% of the professional workforce.
Head of Grounds at Allianz Stadium Jim Buttar, says: “Encouraging more women to consider a career in grounds management is so important and where better to profile the profession than at Allianz Stadium during the Rugby World Cup Final.
“We are really pleased to be working with the Grounds Management Association and Women’s Rugby World Cup to bring in an all-female team for the final. Our team is really looking forward to meeting the 15 highly skilled women involved and supporting them as they prepare the pitch for the teams.”
The all-female grounds team is made up of:
- Georgia Edge, All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon
- Liddy Ford, Wembley Stadium
- Beth Gibbs, Wellington School
- Cheryl Hill, Leicester Tigers
- Rachel Hunter-Worrell, Queen Ethelburga’s York
- Jessica Jackson, Wellington College
- Meg Lay, Lord’s Cricket Ground
- Pippa Lewis, Haberdashers Boys School
- Naquita Lloyd-Edwards, Weymouth and Portland Rugby Club
- Emma Lynch, Lord’s Cricket Ground
- Jasmine Nicholls, Yorkshire County Cricket
- Anna Nilsson, Brabazon Golf Course at The Belfry
- Zibby Parker, Ipswich Town FC and Essex County Cricket Club
- Lucy Rogers, Kings Lynn Golf Club
- Sofia Sousa, South Gloucestershire and Stroud College
Jennifer Carter, Director of Communications and Marketing at the GMA , said: “Everyone involved is proud to be part of history and looking forward to creating the perfect pitch for the showpiece matches.
“Last year we put women in grounds management on a national stage. Now, we’re taking this a step further, showcasing their skills and leadership on a global scale with the view to encouraging more people to consider in the industry.
“These females are fantastic role models – not only for their peers in the industry but for the next generation of women aspiring to work in sport and grounds.
“As a female myself having worked in the sports industry for many years, I know first-hand the perceptions and assumptions that are often made in a male dominated industry – we are here to break down barriers.
Jennifer adds: “Groundspeople make sport possible, from grassroots games to the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final. It’s a fantastic career offering unique opportunities – like working at world-class venues such as Allianz Stadium.”
The event is part of the wider work the GMA is doing to secure the future of the industry. This includes the NextGen team, young ambassadors inspiring the next generation of groundspeople, and a new online hub to help people take their first steps in the sector.
To find out more about careers in grounds management, visit www.thegma.org.uk/what/
