Organisers of the Women’s Rugby World Cup have condemned online abuse after Wales forward Georgia Evans was targeted for wearing a bow in her hair during matches.
Evans revealed last week that she had been mocked as “childish” and told her look was not “rugby player material.” She released a statement pushing back against the comments, sparking widespread support from the rugby community.
During Wales’ loss to Fiji on Saturday, fans rallied behind her. Volunteers set up a bow-making station at the stadium, and more than 1,200 supporters wore bows during the final pool game to show solidarity.
Yvonne Nolan, competition director for England 2025, praised the community response and said the tournament is taking strong action against abuse. Organisers are working with the Signify Group to track and remove abusive social media posts using monitoring technology.
“We have a social media monitoring tool that not only takes posts down but can also lead to legal action if needed,” Nolan explained. “But this is a much bigger social issue. The most powerful response came from fans themselves. That spontaneous bow-making station showed the community saying, ‘We won’t tolerate this in our sport.’ Rugby should be a place where you can be who you want to be.”
Speaking after the defeat in Exeter, Evans shared how the abuse affected her.
“As professional athletes, we know our performances will be judged, and I can accept that,” she told the BBC. “But there’s no place for insults, hate, or any form of abuse on social media. This is bigger than a bow, bigger than rugby, and bigger than me. The support has been unbelievable. I’m heartbroken about our results, but I’ve been truly moved by everyone who chose to wear a bow.”
Wales have been knocked out of the tournament after losing all three of their pool stage matches.
