The future is looking bright for the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and women’s rugby, which is on track to continue its growth with the launch of a new women’s sevens campaign targeting potential new players.

Featuring Australian women’s sevens captain Rebecca Tavo, the campaign aims to encourage young women to take up the Olympic sport.

This follows ARU figures released last month showing increased participation figures for women’s rugby, with player numbers across Australia rising by more than 5 per cent last year.

The improved participation rates were supported by a boost in Australian Government participation funding for rugby union to $666 000 in 2011–12. This funding has supported a number of initiatives, including the appointment of a new program manager to drive participation programs for schoolgirls and women to play and develop their skills.

Tavo is a role model for young girls and women, and was recently named an ambassador of the Prime Minister’s Olympic Challenge, aimed at encouraging primary school-aged children to try a variety of Olympic sports in the lead-up to and during the Olympic Games.

With the welcome introduction of rugby sevens as an Olympic sport from 2016, Tavo is calling on young female players to consider taking up the sport through the campaign.

‘It is fun, fast and exciting and you never know where it could lead you. What may start as a bit of fun could turn into a trip to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016,’ said Tavo.

‘I have had the amazing opportunity to play rugby sevens for my country and win a world championship, so I am always keen to do anything I can to help promote the game.

‘One of the great things about rugby sevens is that it is such an easy game to learn and a fun game to play. Whether you have got a drive to play for Australia to win an Olympic gold medal or you just want to have fun with some friends in a social competition, rugby sevens lets you do that.’

Australia is currently ranked the number one women’s sevens team in the world after winning the 2009 IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens, and their goal is to retain this number one position.

The women’s sevens have some major events coming up in the next five years, which include the IRB World Cup in 2013, the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and the Olympics in Rio De Janeiro in 2016.