The Game Changers

Ali Donnelly: The real story of women's rugby

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Episode notes

Ali Donnelly is Executive Director of Digital, Marketing and Communications at Sport England.  

She is a former Senior Civil Servant, who worked at Downing Street where she was the Prime Minister's Deputy Official Spokesperson and the Head of News.

Ali was previously Head of Communications at Premiership Rugby club Wasps and has also worked in media and public affairs roles at the BBC have started her career as a journalist at the Evening Echo newspaper in Ireland. 

A passionate women's rugby fan and campaigner Ali also runs the award-winning website Scrumqueens and is Director of Women's Rugby at Teddington and a member of the RFU’s Rugby Growth Committee. Her new book is called: 'Scrum Queens - The History of Women's Rugby'. 

Along with exploring Ali’s career pathway in sport and business, we review the current state of play for women’s rugby and the potential with 2025 World Cup on the horizon in England. What more needs to change for equality in women’s sport and to ensure young women don’t stop being active in their teenage age years?

Thanks to Sport England who support The Game Changers through the National Lottery.

Executive Producer – Sam Walker Host – Sue Anstiss @sueanstiss 

A Fearless Women production