Until relatively recently, sportswomen rarely spoke about periods. And then, in 2015, tennis star Heather Watson blamed her Australian Open performance on her menstrual cycle. That interview marked the start of a conversation that’s only gained pace since. 

At Wimbledon last year, several women spoke about the anxiety of having to conform to the Grand Slam’s strict all-white dress code. And last month, the Lionesses announced their decision to switch from playing in white shorts to blue – a change quickly adopted by Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion’s women’s teams.  

There are obvious reasons why white shorts could be a barrier to the comfort and confidence of people who menstruate while playing sport. But if you’re watching this weekend’s TikTok Women’s Six Nations finals, you’ll see the Red Roses wearing their traditional all-white kit.

“We had a big, open conversation as a player group and decided to keep our white shorts,” Sarah Hunter, recently retired England rugby union player, tells Stylist.

“Some people will think that’s an interesting choice, but part of our narrative was: why should periods be a taboo subject?” Hunter continues. “Why should we, as women, have to change who we are to make other people more comfortable?”

Fellow rugby player Emily Scarratt made a particularly good point during the Red Roses’ discussion about their kit, Hunter adds. “[She said], you have a nose bleed and people are fine with that – so what’s the difference having some blood on your shorts?”

Referencing the Lionesses’ decision to change the colour of their kit, Hunter acknowledges that “going from white to blue takes that stress away from worrying if [players] are going to leak on their period during games.

“If that’s going to help them play, then brilliant,” she says. “If that’s what’s needed at a younger age to encourage more girls [to play sport], then that’s brilliant.”

Rather than changing their kit’s colour to hide any leaks, the Red Roses wanted to tackle the taboo around periods head-on. They’re now busy discussing ways in which they can make players feel more comfortable with sanitary products or black undershorts. But, says Hunter, the Red Roses “traditionally wear all white” – and still “[feel] proud to wear all white”.

Images: Getty