This story is made possible in collaboration with Zayed Sports City. Located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, Zayed Sports City is the UAE’s leading multi-sport destination.
Women’s rugby has never been more popular.
The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup Final in London was the most well attended women’s rugby union match in history. With 5.8 million viewers tuning in to witness it, it was the most watched match on UK television, too.
Players are also becoming social media sensations, as highlighted by players like Ilona Maher, who has more than five million Instagram followers thanks to her relatable, funny and empowering posts about the sport and life as an athlete.
On the rise across the Middle East and beyond
Here in the UAE, the rise of women’s rugby is also being noticed.
In 2023, the UAE’s national team qualified for the rugby Asia Series for the very first time. Since then, the UAE has managed to maintain its spot in the series, playing against strong international teams such as Japan, China and Thailand each year.
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Over at long-running rugby club the Abu Dhabi Harlequins,the UAE capital’s only women’s rugby team, the women’s division, which trains at Zayed Sports City, has grown from 25 to 40 players in just one year.
US national Christine Ferrara, 41, has been a member of the club for four years. She explains that the women’s section has never been stronger.
“I’m very excited by how women’s rugby has skyrocketed,” she describes.
“It’s been incredible, and we have a great team right now in Abu Dhabi. In previous seasons we’ve seen numbers gradually reduce as the months go on. But this year everyone’s really committed, and I think that’s partly down to our positive attitude.
“We bounce back quickly whenever we suffer any setbacks, and we run clinics for the younger girls, too. Growing women’s rugby in the region and training the next generation is very important to us.”
A year of wins
The Abu Dhabi Harlequins women’s section is split into three teams: the Quins (first team), the Bats (second team) and the Jesters (third team).
The Quins finished 2025 triumphantly by winning both the UAE’s 15s league and, in a team first, the Gulf Women’s title at the Emirates Dubai 7s. While a few years ago the team won only one out of six tournaments at the 7s, this year they won every single tournament and entered three teams. Two members are also now part of the UAE national team.
“Not only was the Dubai 7s an amazing event because we were playing excellent rugby, but we were also having such a great time playing it as well,” recalls Christine.
“The support we received from the rest of the club was out of this world. We could hear them screaming for us from the pitch. It was a very special experience.”
Made up of women from the UK, USA, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and beyond, those of all abilities are welcome to come along to the Tuesday and Thursday night training sessions at Zayed Sports City.
Providing a safe space for all
Farida Elgazzar, 28, plays for Egypt’s national team as well as the Quins.
She initially joined the club as a child when she moved to the UAE with her family. However, after two years, they all relocated back to Egypt, and she didn’t have a chance to play again until she started university.
“Women’s rugby wasn’t really a thing in Egypt when I was growing up,” Farida remembers.
“The national team’s first international tournament wasn’t until 2021, but it has grown massively in the last few years. Last year we even competed in the 2025 Africa Women’s Sevens. It was a huge moment for us.”
For her, rugby is a place where everyone can feel a sense of belonging. The Quins also helped her make friends when she moved back to Abu Dhabi as an adult.
She notes: “I’ve played rugby in four countries, and every club I’ve been to has been so welcoming and inclusive. I’ve made some great and really genuine connections through rugby. At the Quins we all want to stay fit and we’re goal orientated, but we have fun together, too.”
An empowering sport
The women’s section is made up of all ages, ranging from players as young as 18 to those in their mid 40s.
Christine concludes that one of the things she loves most about the game is how physical it is, and the fact that the rules for women and men are the same.
She states: “We play on the same size pitch as the men and use the same size ball. This speaks volumes about the athleticism required in women’s rugby and it really shows what our bodies are capable of.”
