Rafaelle Nicholson

Dr Rafaelle Nicholson is a Senior Lecturer in Sports Journalism at Bournemouth University’s Faculty of Media & Communication. Her research focuses on gender, sport history, and governance, particularly in women’s cricket. She holds a PhD from Queen Mary University of London (2015), an MSt from the University of Oxford (2010), and a BA from Merton College, Oxford (2009). Nicholson is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and actively contributes to media platforms like The Guardian and ESPN Cricinfo.

Her work explores the intersection of gender with sports governance, including the transition of women’s sports organizations into merged bodies dominated by men. Key projects include analyses of The Hundred’s impact on gender equality and the legacies of historical mergers like the 1993 Football Association merger. Nicholson has also researched the role of women in post-war British sport and the cultural significance of events like the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Her publications span academic journals (e.g., Sport in History, Leisure Studies) and popular media, with books like Ladies and Lords: A History of Women’s Cricket in Britain (2019). Nicholson’s awards include the 2023 Sporting Inequalities Prize and the 2013 Richard Cox Prize. She edits CRICKETher.com, a women’s cricket website, and advocates for gender equity in sports leadership.

Her teaching includes modules on sports journalism and storytelling, while her grants have supported projects like Stronger Together? (2023) and Levelling the Playing Field? (2022). Nicholson is also engaged in public outreach, speaking at conferences and hosting events to promote women’s sport history and governance.