That Pakistan has a national rugby team is little known even in the sports circles. But that girls too are going for the rough and tough game would be surprising to many. It should not be.

Indeed, our women’s rugby team has already made its international debut, at the recent Asian Rugby Sevens Trophy in Laos.

“It’s not fair to make comparisons between male and female rugby players. Each competes against its own gender,” says Faiza Mehboob, a member of that team.

“Rugby is a beautiful and passionate sport. Unfortunately, it is not getting proper patronage from the government,” she told Dawn.

She should know, as she started it all by founding the Rawalpindi Rugby Rams Club. It started with 20 girls who shared, though on separate days, the twin cities’ only designated rugby ground at F-10 Park with the rugby boys for practicing the rough game.

The club disintegrated after Faiza joined the army’s women rugby team, with three others taking the same route and two more joining other institutional teams. Now the boys have the rugby field for practice all to themselves.

However, office holders of the Islamabad Rugby Association are optimistic to bring girls back to the game soon.

“The future of this game is very bright in our country,” assures the captain of the men’s national team, Khawaja Kashif, who belongs to Islamabad.

“We have great talent for the game. If patronised properly, our players can excel far more,” he said, adding that “the game teaches sportsman spirit, teamwork and discipline”.

Except for winning a medal in Sri Lanka in 2009, Pakistan has not won big in international rugby.

“Since the game was formally introduced with the formation of the Pakistan Rugby Union in 2000, we are newcomers compared to the rugby teams of Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the countries of Asia. Still, relatively we are playing well,” the captain said.

“Now, the focus is on developing the game at school and college level. I hope that in the coming years, our team will have good players,” he said.

Islamabad men’s rugby team, which is the national champion, was recently feted to a reception by Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz. He gave away shields and certificates to winning team and appreciated their performance in national championship.

“This is ownership. We are thankful to the mayor for hosting our team. It encouraged our team,” said Wafa Abbas, media manager of the Islamabad Rugby Association.

In fact, rugby has almost a century-old history in what constitutes today’s Pakistan. A Karachi Rugby Union was formed back in 1925 in the British colonial era.

After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, however, the game fell on bad days, losing its charm gradually. By early 1980s, the game became all but extinct. The Karachi Rugby Club is still carrying on with limited funding and matches. Efforts are being made to rejuvenate the game in Lahore.

Small clubs are also active in several other cities, especially in Southern Punjab, under the umbrella of Pakistan Rugby Union which has representation on the Pakistan Sports Board.

Some departments and institutions like the army, police, Wapda and HEC are also affiliated with that setup.

“We have 50 regular male players who practice twice a week at the F-10 Park facility,” said Islamabad Rugby Association Secretary Sahir Aslam.

However, this ground doesn’t have changing rooms which causes problems for the players. “We request the CDA to build changing rooms in this ground,” he said

“Youths’ response towards rugby is highly positive. You don’t need huge funding. Like football, only one ball is required for rugby,” he said.

Recently, the Rugby Union has appointed a development officer for promoting the game at school and college level.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2017