Guidance from England Rugby says that using the phrase ‘man of the match’ is offensive, with persistent use of such “exclusionary” terminology now considered to amount to “bullying or discrimination”. An official language guide issued by the team, which was initially released in 2023, states that words and expressions featuring “man” or “men” may “feel exclusionary”.
Instead, those involved in the sport are advised to use gender-neutral alternatives – including “player of the match” – with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) saying it is striving to make the game as inclusive as possible. The guidance also encourages readers to “avoid gendered language”, citing examples such as “chairman”, “guys and girls” and “ladies and gentlemen”. “Chair”, “everyone”, “team” and “folks” are all suggested as alternatives.
The England Rugby document cautions that “repeated” instances of non-inclusive language usage may constitute bullying, adding: “You should be aware that repeated mistakes indicate a lack of respect and can be distressing for an individual or group. If it continues or is deliberate, it could constitute bullying or discrimination.” The Telegraph reports that additional recommendations include adopting pronouns such as “they/their” and “ze/zir” and “not assuming a binary view” regarding gender.
“Words we use to refer to people’s gender in conversation – for example ‘he’ or ‘she’. Some people may prefer others to refer to them in gender neutral language and use pronouns such as they/their and ze/zir,” the document adds. “When referring to gender, your language should not assume a binary view – so rather than using terms such as ‘both genders’ you should refer to ‘all genders’.”
A spokesperson for the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said: “We strive to be as inclusive an organisation and sport as possible, and choice of language and style of communication is important in achieving this. These guidelines were developed in consultation with representatives from the community game following requests for support.
“They have been widely used and lots of positive feedback received. So much so that specific guidelines for neurodiversity have been developed this year following demand from clubs to provide the very best environment for neurodivergent members.”
However, the guidance has been slammed as “well-intentioned nonsense”, with one critic claiming it “reeks of desperation to look cool.” Former journalist Lord Young, the founder of the Free Speech Union, commented: “Naming a male player ‘Man of the Match’ is unlikely to trigger even the most woke of rugby fans. I suspect these attempts to make rugby politically correct are doomed to failure.”
Meanwhile, Fiona McAnena, campaign director at sex-based rights charity Sex Matters, suggested the initiative is “likely to fall flat on its face,” while Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, director of Don’t Divide Us, added: “It reeks of desperation to look cool, when they’re not. Nor do they need to be – just do the job.”