World Rugby and Capgemini have unveiled the 12 inspiring women who will join the Capgemini Women in Rugby Leadership Program in 2023, reaffirming their commitment to champion female leaders and drive gender equality across the game. The 12 latest scholars, two from each of World Rugby’s six regional associations, hail from Australia, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, Colombia, Georgia, India, Italy, the Philippines, St Lucia, Tonga and Uganda.The program, launched in 2018, has proven transformation in identifying and developing the current and next generation of female leaders in rugby. It helps them to fulfil their potential by supporting their personal and professional development, with the overall aim to increase the number of women in key positions within unions and regional associations. Driving global diversity, particularly in leadership, is a core component of World Rugby’s Accelerating the global development of women in rugby 2021-25 strategic plan. By creating a pipeline of female leaders in rugby, the leadership programme is advancing parity and ensuring greater opportunities for women at all levels of the game.Congratulations to Canada's Maria Samson and St. Lucia's Zhenya Allain from the Rugby Americas North region! Read more from World Rugby here.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6660933ffc070aee53bba43a/66cdf547331a1c22973f5656_Maria-_Samson_-819x1024.avif)
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6660933ffc070aee53bba43a/66cdf547331a1c22973f5661_Zhenya-_Allain_-819x1024.avif)