Can rugby union ever match the popularity of soccer in Iran?

Boasting what has become one of the most successful national teams in Asia, soccer is the most popular team sport in Iran. By comparison, despite being present in the country for a similar amount of time, rugby union has never quite managed to gain the same kind of appeal.

International growth of rugby union

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Soccer or football can actually trace its origins back to rugby football, which first became codified with rules during the mid-1800s. After a split involving teams and governing bodies in 1895, rugby union and rugby league became two slightly different sports. Both codes remain hugely popular throughout the world today, each with their own distinct flavour and competitions.

Interestingly, both American football and Australian rules football were inspired by rugby. They have become hugely popular in their own respective countries, although without the same kind of international reach that soccer has enjoyed. Nevertheless, rugby still has the capacity to draw huge crowds at the biggest events, along with healthy TV audiences.

We only need look at the current Six Nations details and odds on powerhouses of sport like England and France, to see just how popular this annual rugby union tournament has become. First held as the Home Nations Championship in 1883, the first contest was between the four teams of the British Isles: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. It has expanded since to include the aforementioned France and, most recently, Italy.

Through regular participation internationally, rugby union in Iran certainly has the potential to grow stronger. Although it could be a long time until teams are capable of challenging the established nations, the chance to compete against them will come eventually, if the current levels of progress are maintained.

The contrasting "Team Melli" sports

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While rugby union was first introduced to Persia by the British military in the 1800’s, the Iran Rugby Federation wasn’t formed until 2000, before gaining full membership of the International Rugby Board in 2010. The Iranian national team has actually won 13 of 21 matches played since 2007, although it has yet to appear at a Rugby World Cup.
Interestingly, and often missed by followers of sports elsewhere, the Iranian national football team is affectionately known as “Team Melli” amongst fans, literally meaning ‘the national team’ when translated from the Persian language. This name is also shared and commonly used with reference to the Iranian national rugby union team.

Despite these similarities, the two sports are poles apart when it comes to popularity, although times are certainly changing. Since the national men’s team won their first international 32-3 against Pakistan in 2007, there are now around 12,000 registered players. Interestingly, there is now a roughly even split of male and female rugby participants, according to the most recent estimates in Iran.

Such figures are still relatively small for rugby union, compared to the almost 500,000 football players registered in Iran. Likewise, while rugby union participation is predominantly amateur, football also has a competitive and established football league system. Top of the professional football ecosystem is the Persian Gulf Pro League for men, along with the Kowsar Women Football League for female players.

Persian rugby can match soccer success

If the progress of rugby union is encouraged at all levels of the game in Iran, there’s no reason not to be ambitious about the sport. Within the next couple of decades, the “Team Melli” of rugby union is hoping to reach the Rugby World Cup, that would truly be a magnificent achievement. That would follow the “Team Melli” in football, which has participated in five World Cup tournaments. Indeed, there’s every reason for Persians to be proud of both sports.