Representation of Women Authors in 4 Decades of Rugby Research

Hunzinger, KJ, Pollen, TR, Bilimoria, AM, Hough, AK, Hough, JD, Lutz, VN, Medagam, RH, and Schneider, ALC. Representation of women authors in 4 decades of rugby research. J Strength Cond Res 39(10): e1188-e1194, 2025-Gender bias in scientific publication, particularly authorship, is common; however, its extent in rugby research remains unclear. This study examined the prevalence of authorship by gender among first, last, and corresponding authors of rugby research over 4 decades. Indexed rugby studies published through September 29, 2024, were collected from 3 databases (Web of Science, Embase, and PubMed). Articles were screened by 2 reviewers, with a third reviewer for consensus. Author gender was identified through names and regional data using the Genderize database. Percentages of women authors were calculated, and Fisher's exact tests compared first or corresponding author gender pairs. Logistic regression assessed trends over time by role, publication year, and author count. Of 10,142 articles screened, 2,258 (22.3%) were included. Women represented 20.0% of first authors, 16.0% of last authors, and 17.9% of corresponding authors. Publication frequency increased over time for both genders, but the gender ratio remained stable. The most common first/corresponding author pairing was man/man (71.6%), significantly higher than other author gender pairs (p < 0.001). Publication year was associated with increased odds of female first and corresponding authorship (both p-trend < 0.05), and more authors per paper was associated with increased odds of woman first author (OR = 1.04 [95% CI = 1.00-1.08]). Consistent with other fields, women authors are underrepresented in rugby research. These disparities may limit diverse perspectives in the field and hinder the visibility and career advancement of women researchers. Potential underlying factors driving these disparities should be investigated to inform policies that promote equitable access to funding, research opportunities, and leadership roles in rugby science.