Nadia Abdelrahman

“Rugby taught me that there's no limit to what I can do. If I can take down a scrum half twice my size, then I can do anything.”

Born and raised in Cairo, Nadia Abdelrahman has always been drawn to the adrenaline of sports. Despite the societal pressures against women playing sports, Nadia discovered rugby in her late teens and fell in love with the fierce competition and physicality of the game. She joined Cairo's first women's rugby team and quickly became a standout player, known for her blistering speed and bone-crushing tackles. Off the pitch, Nadia is an artist at heart and spends her free time painting and drawing her teammates in action. She also volunteers at the local animal shelter, where she rescues and fosters abandoned dogs and cats.

What drew you to rugby?

I was always a tomboy and loved roughhousing with my brothers. When I saw some guys playing rugby in the park, I was intrigued and watched from the sidelines. Eventually, they invited me to join in and I was hooked.

What's the most challenging part of being a female rugby player in Egypt?

Definitely the societal pressure to conform to traditional gender roles. People think it's unladylike to play a contact sport, but I say, who wants to be a lady when you can be a warrior?

What's your favorite thing about playing rugby?

The camaraderie. Nothing brings people together like working towards a common goal and leaving it all out on the field. Plus, there's nothing like the feeling of scoring a try and hearing your teammates cheering you on.