On different sides of the ruck? Exploring stakeholder perceptions of female rugby talent development environments

Talent development research has largely overlooked gender-specific insights, resulting in a significant gender data gap. This study aimed to address this disparity by exploring the perceptions of athletes, parents, and coaches in female rugby talent development environments (TDEs). By identifying strengths and areas for improvement, the study seeks to provide actionable insights to enhance the development of female athletes and inform more effective TDEs. A total of 102 female athletes (mean age=15.8 ± 0.8 years), 80 parents (mean age=48.1 ± 4.9 years, 31 male, 49 female), and 22 coaches (mean age=38.8 ± 11.7 years, 14 male, 7 female, 1 other gender) from three rugby TDEs in Ireland completed the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire (TDEQ-5) or adapted versions. Subscale analysis revealed that both athletes (4.83 ± 0.73) and parents (4.70 ± 0.91) rated Support Network highest and Holistic Quality Preparation lowest (athletes: 3.96 ± 0.95; parents: 4.23 ± 1.46), whereas coaches rated Long-Term Development highest (5.04 ± 0.50) and Alignment of Expectations lowest (4.11 ± 0.58). Item-level analysis ranked individual items into top and bottom quartiles, identifying perceived strengths and areas for improvement across all subscales. The findings reveal notable differences in how athletes, parents, and coaches perceive the TDEs. Addressing these perceptual disparities and the identified areas for improvement may enhance the effectiveness of female rugby TDEs, and better support athletes’ development.