Rugby Star Claims Veil Led to Exclusion from French National Team

The former second-row player from Bobigny and Stade français was selected thirty times for the French national team and, under the France Féminines jersey. In 2014, she wins a Grand Slam. She finishes third in the Women’s Rugby World Cup that same year.

On the Bein Sports set, Assa Koita stated that the end of her international career is due to her decision to wear the veil. A statement that elicited a reaction from the general manager of France Féminines, Annick Hayraud.

"Assa’s religious convictions have never been taken into account in our choices. Simply, if Assa did not return to the selection, it is because she had not regained the level we had known her and that overall, she was having trouble coming back, that’s all. [...] The issue of the veil never came up. As far as I’m concerned, I simply wondered during a discussion with her why she had started wearing the veil when she didn’t before. But I repeat: her religion was in no way a criterion for selection," she explained to Rugbyrama.