Iranian Women Do Rugby
It's perhaps the most manly and warlike of all the sports.
And this past weekend, a group of fierce and fiery Iranian women showed that the Rugby pitch isn't just for men--it's for veiled Muslim women too. For the first time ever, Iranian women took to the Rugby pitches of Europe. Though they were handed a couple of brutal defeats, their coach said, "This was our first tournament in Europe and although we didn't win as we did in Laos and Thailand I am very happy."
Though hailing from Islamic Iran--where women's rights are suppressed--these young women do not find themselves restrained to traditional female roles. And in Iran, they're apparently not alone.
The Daily Mail reports:
A quarter of a century ago, in the early years of the 1979 Islamic revolution when competitive sports for women were strongly discouraged, it would have been unthinkable for Iranian women to play a sport as physical as rugby....Women's rugby was first introduced to Iran 10 years ago, and has grown in popularity ever since.
I find Rugby team's mere existence to be both fascinating and inspiring. Not even in the West do many young women aspire to an activity as masculine and warlike as Rugby. .
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Jun '10
Re: Iranian Women Do Rugby
Isn't the Haka outlawed in Iran....
May '10
Re: Iranian Women Do Rugby
Emily, haven't you paid attention to women's hockey? I wouldn't tangle with the team I see here on campus.
Re: Iranian Women Do Rugby
Duane, you're right--the hockey girls are a tough bunch. But don't you think Rugby girls have to be a bit tougher--they wear no padding after all! And no helmets. Rugby strikes me as more primeval (see: the Haka): players inevitably leave the field muddy, bruised, and bloodied up.
Jun '10
Re: Iranian Women Do Rugby
For a good laugh check out the Jameson's Whiskey commercial featuring the Haka. The Sottish team's response is, um . . . colorful, if you like slightly off-color jokes.
Re: Iranian Women Do Rugby
Fascinating and inspiring, indeed. Thanks for posting about it.
May '10
Re: Iranian Women Do Rugby
I was just suggesting that more women than the Iranian rugbyites, including US women, are becoming similarly brave. I am agnostic on the relative rankings, since they are all probably tougher than I am.
That last line probably explains a lot, all by itself.....
Jun '10
Re: Iranian Women Do Rugby
As the father of former college rugby players, I was thrilled to see those tough, young Iranian women playing one of the world's great sports.
It's a great game, requires teamwork (when the plays work, it's as beautiful as ballet), and you see a lot of bloody noses. Good for them.
Re: Iranian Women Do Rugby
This reminds me of the time I was in a local martial arts store with a male, Turkish friend. A very traditional couple walked in -- he was an unshaven, tough local macho of the sort one often sees in these stores; she was a diminutive young woman wearing the hijab. He was loudly demanding to see various kinds of mouth guards and boxing wraps. She was silent, eyes demurely downcast. My friend asked the guy where he trained. "I don't," he said. "They're for her."
May '10
Re: Iranian Women Do Rugby
We wonder if Martial Claire uses a plain mouthguard or has it decorated in some interesting way.
May '10
Re: Iranian Women Do Rugby
Is it pink with a picture of Margaret Thatcher on it? Mine would be.
Re: Iranian Women Do Rugby
What a GREAT story, Claire! Maybe she'll be training for Rugby next. Is Rugby big in Turkey?
Re: Iranian Women Do Rugby
I've heard of rugby teams, but "big" -- no.