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Zainab Alema breaking new ground: ‘I had to invest in sport hijabs to play comfortably’
By Ciara Fearn
Women’s rugby is being rewritten by Zainab Alema. She challenges the status quo as a black Muslim woman, mother, grassroots rugby advocate and volunteer, and former NHS nurse.
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On top of this, Alema currently balances these responsibilities alongside playing for Richmond, and previously Premiership Women’s Rugby side Leicester Tigers on a short-term contract.
Alema’s journey into rugby wasn’t without its challenges. Representation was a major obstacle early on. She rarely saw black players on her team, let alone Muslim women.
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Another barrier to overcome was adapting what to wear whilst playing and having to find creative solutions which accommodated her faith, as well as trying to fit in to rugby’s social culture, which included drinking.
“I rarely saw Muslim or Black women in rugby. At university, I was often the only Black person on my team, which made me question if I truly belonged in the sport.
“The kit usually had short sleeves, so I had to create underlayers and invest in sport hijabs to play comfortably. I also remember the first time my hijab came off mid-game, which was embarrassing.
“As a Muslim who abstains from alcohol, I found it difficult to connect with my university teammates at social gatherings. Although it felt lonely, rugby gave me a place, and I frequently have an Earl Grey tea at the bar in its place,” she said.
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Alema has been able to connect with a wide range of people and educate them through social media. “I use social media to share my journey and educate others on supporting Muslim girls in rugby. If I can help clubs accommodate them or inspire a young girl to join, it’s worth it.”
Representation in sport shapes aspirations and a sense of belonging for many. Alema reflects on the role models she had growing up, with former England player Maggie Alphonsi standing out as an inspiration.
“As a black woman, Maggie showed me I could succeed in rugby, especially during moments of doubt. Now, being seen as a role model myself is something I never expected. I started rugby out of love for the sport, but along the way, I’ve become someone others look up to.”
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“I understand how much representation matters,” she says, “Greater visibility is key to growing rugby. Major channels should showcase the sport, with more representation and player stories to inspire new fans.
Last season, Alema made her Premiership debut for Leicester Tigers and broke stereotypes by becoming the first woman to play in the Premiership with a hijab.
“If a young Muslim girl hesitated to play rugby, I’d tell her to be ‘the bulldozer,’ smashing stereotypes by embracing what makes her different, because being different is powerful.”
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One of her proudest moments was changing her own father’s perspective of women’s rugby.
“When I first started playing rugby, he wasn’t too keen. Over the years, he’s seen how much of a passion it is for me and how much I really try to incorporate it into my life, and now he proudly tells people, ‘My daughter plays rugby.’ That shift in mindset is huge.”
Alema believes that changing perceptions at home can ripple out into society and change the world’s perspective.
“I always say if you can change perceptions at home, that hopefully will feed into the bigger picture, and people will start to change their negative perceptions about women and girls in sport.”
For Alema, it’s clear that rugby is a vehicle to help educate people about those from different backgrounds and religions, challenging different mindsets, and leaving a legacy. If her journey so far is any indication, she’s just getting started.
Alema recently sat down with England players Sadia Kabeya and Maud Muir on the Rugby Rising Locker Room sofa. You can listen to her episode which looks at addressing reasons young girls drop out of sport and how to find the positives in puberty, plus how to overcome feeling self-conscious or judged when playing a sport such as rugby.
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