Women's Rugby Is Finally Getting the Footwear It Deserves, Thanks to adidas

It’s long overdue, but women athletes are finally getting gear designed specifically for them. Adidas just launched its first-ever RS15 Avaglide — the only rugby boot created by women, for women in the game.

To do that, the brand dug deep and collected detailed foot data from players at every level, including both the men’s and women’s teams from rugby powerhouses like New Zealand and France .

One standout finding was that women often have narrower heels than men. So, rather than using the same boot shape for everyone, adidas created a new design feature called the “Waterfall heel,” shaped to hug the back of the foot more naturally, with extra foam padding that wraps over the top and flows down the heel — kind of like a soft, supportive cascade.

“It’s a big moment for women’s rugb