Celebrating unsung heroes

As the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup continues, Lieutenant Rachel Furlong reflects on how people play their part on the pitch.

This year has seen several high-profile women’s sports tournaments, from the Lionesses winning the Euros to the Hundred and, later this year, the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, as well as tennis, athletics and swimming to name just a few. Last month, the Women’s Rugby World Cup joined the list, this year hosted in England. This weekend sees the competition reach the quarter-final stage, with Scotland, England and Ireland all still in contention.

Each nation has its stars, with faces known to both avid fans and more casual rugby followers. But, unusually, the famous faces in this tournament often belong not to the players but to the officials. Names and faces such as Scotland’s Hollie Davidson, England’s Sara Cox and South Africa’s Aimee Barrett-Theron, who famously said last year in a men’s under-20s match: ‘I’m not mad, I’m just really disappointed.’ These referees are recognisable to most rugby fans around the world, meaning they have a higher public profile than many of the players they are officiating.

This places them in an uncomfortable position. Each rugby match official, from amateur referees like me to those managing high-profile games, has the same end goal of making sure that nobody is talking about them: a good game for a referee is when the game has been played safely, officiated fairly and nobody remembers you. While they’re running around with the whistle and making the calls, referees want the focus to be on the game, not them.

As a Salvation Army officer, I see many people in corps who go about their jobs with a similar attitude – members who participate behind the scenes so that others can serve. They might clean the toilets, put the bins out or phone and visit those who are lonely. These inconspicuous roles happen every week in corps and centres up and down the territory. They carry out these acts of service hidden away from public recognition, not doing it for personal glory, but because it is their service to the Lord.

We read in 1 Corinthians 12:4–6 about the spiritual gifts given to the Church and how they are held in equal value: ‘There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.’

As Salvationists, we go about our service to the Lord, be that a very public or hidden ministry, knowing that God sees and values equally all that is offered to him in love. Whether we are hoovering an entrance hallway or preaching, we are offering our time, talents and gifts in his service.

And so, as the Women’s Rugby World Cup enters its final stages, and the match officials take to the field, see if you can spot the officials as they go about their work, and ponder who in your corps setting goes about their role avoiding the attention but serving God in their own unique way.

Reflect and respond

• Read 1 Corinthians 12:4–6. What gifts has God given you? What gifts has God given those around you?
• How can you offer your gifts in the Lord’s service? How can you encourage others in offering theirs?
• Do you serve God for his recognition or the recognition of other people?