Motivation of Rugby Union players as a function of gender: a qualitative approach

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine men's and women's rugby in order to identify differences in the motivation of male and female Rugby Union players. Six participants (M age = 21 years) were selected for interview by means of their motivation scores, which were acquired from participant's initial completion of the Behavioural Regulation in Sport Questionnaire (BRSQ; Lonsdale et al., 2008). Coding of these interviews, followed by inductive content analysis resulted in the emergence of a number of common themes, through which both similarities and differences between males and females were identified. Player pathways differentiated between males and females, mainly in terms of starting age and manners in which players progressed. Both males and females were highly intrinsically motivated, despite a tendency for males to receive more extrinsic rewards. A significant theme, which was linked to the relatedness facet of motivation, emerged in the form of the social aspect of playing rugby. The findings were in line with Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci and Ryan, 1985), and offered practical implications for the provision of women's rugby.