Rosie Golby was one of four members (*) of the rugby community recognised by the RFU Rose Awards 2025/26 for their exceptional service to the sport for many years.

Rosie Golby is one of the true pioneers of women's rugby in England. At a time when the women's game had no formal structure, no national body, and no international standing, Rosie helped build it from the ground up.

Rosie served as Secretary of the WRFU from 1989 to 1994, before becoming the RFUW’s inaugural President from 1994 to 1998. In that role, she was responsible for establishing the governance and administration of women's rugby in England at a national level.

Simultaneously, from 1994 to 2002, Rosie served as England Women's first representative on the World Rugby (then IRB) Women's Advisory Committee – a role she held for eight years.

Rather than stepping back after handing over the reins at the RFUW, Rosie returned to grassroots rugby at Newbury RFC, where she served as Club Secretary from 1999 to 2013 - bringing her wealth of experience to community rugby for both men and women.

(*) Rosie Golby, Stephen Duckworth, Nicola ‘Nicky’ Ponsford and Philip Evans were all acknowledged for their contributions to rugby https://www.englandrugby.com/follow/news-and-media/recognising-contributions-rugby-rfu-rose-awards-announced-202526