Muslimah Rugby team take to the pitch for first ever game

Taking to the field as a team for the first time, Muslimah Rugby took on Black Girls Ruck in a celebration of representation in rugby.

Muslimah Rugby are a team made up entirely of Muslim women players, providing a showcase of inclusivity in the sport.

“I grew up playing rugby without role models who looked like me. I watched the England team and we had some amazing players but none of them looked like me or had my race, my religion,” said Muslimah Rugby captain Ayesha Khuram.

“My dad used to play for Pakistan and I've held a rugby ball in my hand almost since birth, but I’ve played in teams where I have been the only person of colour or the only Muslim, so events like these are really important as we get to showcase ourselves.

“For people from my culture, rugby is often seen as a ‘rough’ sport and there are stereotypes that hold us back from joining. 

“I have friends that I think would be a great nine, a great flanker, a great full-back, but they just don't feel like they can or they don't feel like they have seen people like them; they're the ones that I want to see coming down to their local clubs.”