If any of the Iranian women’s squad had cauliflower ears at the international sevens tournament, nobody would be able to tell as they took to the pitch in full length skin suits and headscarves underneath their kit. They caused quite a stir at their first ever European appearance.
The squad got off to a difficult start and lost 10-0 against the host nation and 33-0 in a second game. But they bounced back and enjoyed several victories in the tournament in Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy.
The women were wearing a version of the ‘maghnaeh’ veil which covers all except the face and hands. This is a huge step in a strict culture was at the heart of an Islamic revolution just 25 years ago when women’s activities were strongly discouraged. It would have been unthinkable for a woman to play a sport as physical as rugby.
The Iranian team coach Fatme Molai has been in the job for four years and remarks that the kits are just something they wear and do not influence the way they play. She admits that the veil could be more practical and the federation is looking into other options but she is satisfied that it adhered to society. She added that although the team did not win the competition as they did in Laos and Thailand, she was happy with their first European performance.
Alireza Iraj, Tehran women’s club coach, explained that it is important to coach the team whilst adhering to strict rules. In Islamic law two members of the opposite sex cannot touch unless they are married or members of immediate family. So as a man, when teaching scrums or tackles he ensures he keeps a decent distance from the women and instructs the players rather than carrying out a movement himself.
Team Captain Zohre Eyni, 22, said that the whole squad had learned to keep the veil in place so that it doesn’t interfere with play and that they have proven that the veil does not hold them back in any sport even one as physical as rugby.