The Egyptian national women’s rugby team won the silver medal at the Arab Rugby Sevens Championship held from 14-15 February at Alexandria Sports Stadium.
In the men’s game Egypt blanked Libya to take the bronze.
The women secured second place after falling to Tunisia in the final 38-0, concluding their campaign as runners-up.
Egypt began their journey with an emphatic 46-0 victory over Lebanon, followed by a dominant 62-0 win against Saudi Arabia. They then continued their winning streak by defeating Jordan 46-0 and the UAE 10-0. However, in the final group stage match, they suffered a 38-0 loss to Tunisia.
In the championship match, Egypt once again faced Tunisia but were unable to overturn the earlier group-stage result, losing by the same 38-0 result and settling for the silver medal.
The squad featured 12 players: Hala Koura, Rola Al-Waziri, Kenzi Salama, Malak Sweilem, Nada Samir, Farida Zakzouk, Farida Al-Sharkawi, Nour Shalabi, Malak Seif Al-Nasr, Rowan Rashad, Farida Al-Gazzar, and Maysara Mohamed.
Meanwhile, in the men's competition, the UAE secured the gold medal after a closely contested 14-7 victory over Morocco who claimed silver. Egypt finished on the podium with a dominant 17-0 win against Libya to take the bronze.
The tournament marked the 10th edition of the men’s competition and the fifth edition for the women’s category.
Egypt’s men previously won the championship in 2018 after earning back-to-back silver medals in 2016 and 2017.
On the women’s side, the Pharaohs made history in 2021 by winning the championship in their debut appearance without conceding a single try. They followed that success with consecutive bronze medals in 2023 and 2024.
Alexandria proved itself as the ideal host for the championship, delivering what has been widely recognised as the best edition of the tournament to date. The championship, held at the historic Alexandria Stadium, was a resounding success, showcasing exceptional organisation and an outstanding level of competition.
Hossam Saheb, president of the Egyptian Rugby Federation and the North African Rugby Union, expressed his pride in how the city welcomed and impressed all participants. He highlighted the seamless coordination of matches, the high standard of the playing field, and the thoughtful arrangements for teams, including designated tents for each nation. Saheb also praised the accommodation which was strategically located near the stadium to ensure smooth transportation. Playing in Alexandria Stadium, the oldest in Africa and the Arab world since its completion in 1929, added a profound historical significance to the event.
Saheb emphasised the rapid growth of Arab rugby, crediting the consistent organisation of regional championships for the sport’s development. He noted the high level of competition, particularly from the UAE and Morocco in the men's tournament and Tunisia in the women. Reflecting on Egypt's performance, he expressed satisfaction with the achievements, as Egypt and the UAE were the only two nations to secure medals in both the men’s and women’s events. He singled out the women for their “remarkable” progress, particularly their unexpected victory over the UAE and their historic run to the final. The performance, he noted, was a testament to the continued development of rugby in Egypt, especially following the federation’s official recognition as an active member of World Rugby.
Following the championship’s success, Egypt was officially chosen to host the next edition of the tournament, next year at the same time. Saheb said the event will surpass this year’s in both organisation and performance.
He extended his gratitude to Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi for his unwavering support of the championship and the Egyptian Rugby Federation. He also acknowledged Ahmed Khaled, governor of Alexandria, for his pivotal role in overcoming logistical challenges, overseeing preparations, and attending the closing ceremony to personally present the medals. The gesture, according to Saheb, added significant prestige and joy to the tournament. Special thanks were also given to Qais Al-Dhalai, president of the Arab and Asian rugby federations, for his continuous support in bringing the championship to Egypt this year and next. Additionally, Saheb expressed appreciation for the presence of Yasser Idris, president of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, Sherif Al-Arian, secretary-general of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, and all guests and Arab federation heads who attended the closing ceremony.
Alongside the championship, the Arab Rugby Federation held its ordinary and electoral general assembly meeting. The meeting was attended by Al-Dhalai, who is also a member of the World Rugby Executive Board, along with Saheb.
During the session, elections for the new executive committee of the Arab Rugby Federation for the 2025–2028 term took place, resulting in the uncontested election of all members. The newly formed executive committee comprises leading figures in sports administration dedicated to advancing rugby in the Arab world. The lineup includes Al-Dhalai as president, Abdullah Jamal and Aref Balkhirbah as vice presidents, Saud Al-Nuaimi as secretary-general, Fareeq Hazaa as assistant secretary-general, and Hamdan Suleiman as executive director. The executive board members include Fawzia Ferdion as the women's representative, Ahmed Madani, Rabih Al-Masri, Mohamed Nasr from the Egyptian Rugby Federation, and Hicham Oubja.
Saheb was elected president of the newly established North African Rugby Union following its founding meeting which took place on the sidelines of the Arab championship.
The North African Rugby Union comprises Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. The founding nations agreed that Egypt will serve as the official headquarters of the union.
At present, the North African Rugby Union will focus on unifying efforts to organise rugby-related tournaments and sporting events across its member countries. The union aims to enhance the level of competition, expand participation in the sport, and welcome new members. Additionally, it will facilitate the exchange of expertise and oversee the organisation of both regional and international tournaments, contributing to the overall advancement of rugby in the region.
During the founding meeting, those attending emphasised the importance of supporting team sports and encouraging youth participation in various athletic activities. They expressed their appreciation for the launch of the North African Rugby Union, recognising its potential to play a pivotal role in the development of rugby across the region.
The Arab Rugby Sevens Championship in Alexandria featured Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, the UAE, and host nation Egypt.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 20 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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