The adidas RS15 Avaglide - Built Specifically for Women
Every rugby boot on the market until recently was designed for men and not for for female players. Women either bought men's boots in smaller sizes or youth boots, and accepted that the fit and construction weren't built around how they move.
The adidas RS15 Avaglide is different. It's the world's first women's specific rugby boot, engineered from scratch by adidas on a women's last rather than scaled down from a men's design. The Triangle Support System uses TPU elements in the lateral and medial ball area to account for the biomechanical differences in female players' movement - women typically have a wider Q-angle at the knee, which changes how force is distributed through the foot and ankle. Flex zones allow natural foot movement, the waterfall heel construction provides a locked-in feel, and the 3D printed kicking elements and asymmetric lacing deliver kicking accuracy and foot lockdown.
It's a soft ground boot recommended for backs, back row and hookers - the same position profile as the RS15 range it sits alongside. If you're a female player who has spent years making do with men's boots, the Avaglide is the first boot in rugby built specifically for you.
Unisex Rugby Boots for Female Players
Beyond the Avaglide, the rest of the boots in this collection are standard unisex designs - the same boots worn by male players, available in sizes that work for women. That's not a compromise. Most female players at club level wear unisex boots and get on perfectly well with them. The position-led choice matters far more than whether the boot has a women's specific label.
The principles are the same as for any player. Backs need a lightweight 6-stud boot for pace and footwork - the adidas RS15 SG and Canterbury Speed are the go-to options. Forwards need more stability and a wider fit - the Canterbury Stampede and Mizuno Waitangi are the standard forward choices. Back row and mobile players sit in the middle - the Canterbury Phoenix and adidas RS15 are both widely used.
Sizing Women's Rugby Boots
This is where it gets slightly complicated. Most unisex rugby boots run on the standard UK scale - the same scale used for men's footwear. If you normally buy women's UK shoes, your rugby boot size will typically be one to two sizes smaller than your women's shoe size, depending on the brand.
As a rough guide: a women's UK shoe size 6 typically corresponds to a men's/unisex UK 4-4.5. The adidas Avaglide uses women's UK sizing, so if you're buying the Avaglide you use your standard women's size. For everything else in this collection, size down from your women's shoe size or check the individual product page for guidance. When in doubt, measure your foot in centimetres and use the brand's size chart.
