Gay acceptance still lacking says Rugby union star Jasmine Joyce-Butchers

“It has given us a platform to champion a powerful message and promote equality for everyone,” Welsh rugby star Jasmine Joyce-Butchers said in an interview with PinkNews while discussing the introduction of the world’s first female soft-ground boot.

According to ‘MSN’, co-developed with elite athletes, the IDA x Guinness Never Settle boot was designed alongside top players like Joyce-Butchers to tackle the issue of poorly fitting footwear for female athletes. “We don’t aspire to be like men or have the same identity, but having women’s-fit boots is a step towards equality and provides us with the same opportunities they have,” says Joyce-Butchers, who plays for the Wales women’s national rugby union team, Team GB, and Bristol Bears.

“This boot allows us to play more comfortably while minimizing the risk of injury… It’s definitely a positive advancement for women’s rugby. When I began playing, women’s rugby wasn’t televised. It’s fantastic to now see it on BBC. We can see ourselves on TV, and it gives younger boys and girls a chance to watch us. You have to see us to aspire to be us, and we now receive so much more support.

“We now have jerseys designed specifically for women. It’s significant for us; you want to feel comfortable in the clothes you wear, especially since they are part of our team gear.”

Joyce-Butchers married her teammate Alisha Butchers in December 2023, and they share glimpses of their life together on social media. “Men's and women’s rugby are distinct. In women’s rugby, we are very open, and people come to watch us as individuals rather than just for the sport,” Joyce-Butchers says regarding being an out LGBTQ+ athlete.

“We have a different audience than men’s rugby, and as a same-sex couple, what we do is widely accepted within rugby.

“If it were more accepted in men’s rugby, perhaps more individuals would be comfortable being open about it. It does exist in men’s rugby, but they are less open about it.”

Sharing advice, she states: “You will be judged regardless of who you are, what you do, or where you’re from. So, my best advice is to be yourself because whether you’re true to yourself or not, you’ll face judgment, criticism, and negative comments.”

Round three of the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations rugby begins on Saturday (April 12), as the Welsh team competes against France at Stade Amedee-Domenech, in Brive, starting at 12:45 p.m. The match will be broadcast on BBC One Wales and the iPlayer.