Top 5 most famous female rugby players on Instagram: Caslick…

In 2023, women’s rugby saw remarkable growth at all levels, with record numbers of players lacing up their boots and fans filling the stands. This surge was fueled by thrilling on-field events.

Following the success of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021, the sport has continued to expand over the past year, achieving record attendances worldwide and providing more teams with meaningful matches through WXV.

Official World Rugby statistics reflect this positive trend, showing a seven percent increase in the global female playing population, now nearing two million. The number of active registered female players has risen by 33.9 percent to 319,966, and female participation has jumped by 53.2 percent.

We’ve compiled a list of the top five most-followed female rugby players on Instagram, highlighting the biggest stars in the game today.

Before her sevens debut, Queensland-born Charlotte Caslick excelled in touch football, earning the title of Touch Football Australia's Player of the Series at the 2012 National Youth Championships.

Charlotte debuted in sevens in 2013, quickly rising to global prominence. She was named in the World Series Dream Team for three consecutive seasons (2014-16), contributing significantly to Australia’s first series victory with nine tries and numerous assists.

In 2013, Charlotte participated in the Australian Olympic Youth Festival, where Rugby Sevens debuted. She was honored with reading the Olympic oath on behalf of all athletes.

At 26, Charlotte made history at the Rio Olympics, scoring seven tries, including one in the gold medal match against New Zealand, helping Australia win gold. This triumph capped off a remarkable 2016 for the team, who also clinched the World Series title. Charlotte was named the 2016 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year.

In 2018, she won silver at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and bronze at the Women’s Sevens World Cup in San Francisco.

With COVID-19 halting international competitions, Charlotte briefly switched to NRLW in 2020, playing for the Roosters. However, a season-ending back injury cut her stint short. After recovering, she re-signed with Rugby Australia in November 2020 for the Tokyo Games.

At the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games, Charlotte scored two tries in the group stage and another in the quarter-finals against Fiji. Despite her efforts, Australia finished fifth.

At a mere 18 years old and with just a handful of senior matches to her name, Ellie made a remarkable impact by scoring a try on her England 15s debut. This memorable moment occurred when she entered the field as a substitute against Canada in the autumn of 2017.

Ellie's journey in rugby traces back to her roots in rugby league, where she began her sporting endeavors at Keighley Rugby Union Football Club while growing up in West Yorkshire. Her exceptional performances during the inaugural Premier 15s season with Gloucester earned her five additional starts for the Red Roses in the 2018 Women’s Six Nations.

Transitioning seamlessly from 15s to sevens in August 2018, Ellie continued to shine, tallying nine tries in just eight appearances for the Red Roses. Her dedication to the sport led her to join Wasps in 2020, where she committed her focus to XVs, culminating in a victory at the 2021 Six Nations. Subsequently, she made a move to Harlequins in 2021, further solidifying her presence in the rugby world.

Ellie's contributions continued to grow as she remained an integral part of the Red Roses' lineup, participating in the 2021 autumn international squad and securing another Six Nations victory in 2022. She played a pivotal role in the squad's journey to the final of the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and contributed to their triumphant Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023.

Her achievements were further recognized when she featured in the Red Roses squad during their title-winning campaign at the inaugural WXV1 tournament in New Zealand. Most recently, Ellie's excellence earned her a spot in John Mitchell’s squad for the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, highlighting her continued impact and significance in the sport.

World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year nominee Maddison Levi had an outstanding 2022/23 season, scoring tries with ease. There’s every reason to believe the Australian can maintain or even surpass this performance in the upcoming SVNS season.

Levi made her mark in history playing alongside stars like Charlotte Caslick and Madison Ashby, showcasing her remarkable talent in the Aussie green and gold.

At just 21, Levi set a new record for the most tries in a single World Series season by a female player, scoring 57 tries over seven events. The previous best was 43, achieved by Michaela Blyde.

“The Aussie Rugby Sevens program is probably the highest level elite, full-time women’s sports program in the country,” Maddison Levi said in a statement.”

“The level of the coaching and training, the S&C, the medical side, the player development, and the standards and expectations within the group are as good as it gets.

“Plus, we have experienced so much over the last two seasons – travelling the world with this group, winning major tournaments – that it just made it such an easy decision to continue on with the squad beyond the Olympics next year.

“There is so much to look forward to for this program – and I will get to do it with my sister, as well as with this extended family that is our team.”

Abbie's introduction to rugby began with touch at the age of 10, igniting a passion that led her through various age groups. Her talent shone early as she contributed to the England squad's triumph at the U20 Nations Cup in 2011. Venturing abroad, she spent the summer of 2014 showcasing her skills in Canada with the Strathcona Druids.

Notably, Abbie made history as the first former Sedbergh School girl to represent England in a senior national sporting team. Her debut was marked with flair as she scored a try in her inaugural start against Italy in 2015. This was just the beginning of her impressive journey.

A pivotal figure in England's 2017 World Cup squad, Abbie started in the final against New Zealand, showcasing her prowess on the international stage. Her consistency was evident as she participated in all five of England's games at the 2018 Six Nations as part of the Bristol Bears second row.

Recognition followed with a full-time contract in 2019, culminating in a triumphant Six Nations Grand Slam victory later that year. Leading by example, she captained the Super Series squad in June 2019, a testament to her leadership qualities and skill.

Despite challenges, including maternity leave, Abbie's dedication never wavered. She is now set to feature prominently in the 2024 Six Nations, adding to her impressive rugby legacy.