Morocco's Saïdia hosts fourth international beach rugby tournament with historic women's debut
The Mediterranean resort of Saïdia Mediterrania, on Morocco's northeastern coast, is set to welcome the fourth edition of the International Beach Rugby 5s Tournament from May 15 to 18, 2026. Organized by the Association of Former Rugby Players of Oujda (AAJRO), the event has grown steadily since its 2022 launch into one of the most anticipated fixtures on Morocco's sporting calendar, drawing clubs, veterans, families, and spectators from across the country and Europe.
An international field with European clubs competing on the sand
This year's edition will feature national teams and clubs from France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Germany competing alongside Moroccan sides. The beach rugby 5s format, which combines explosive pace with accessibility for players and spectators alike, has proven a strong draw since the tournament's founding. The competition will be held on the western beach of Saïdia Mediterrania, with the Radisson Blu Resort serving as the event's base. Matches unfold directly on the sand with the Mediterranean as a backdrop, creating a setting that distinguishes the tournament from conventional rugby competitions.
A historic milestone: women's rugby takes center stage
The 2026 edition introduces a landmark change, the full inclusion of women's rugby teams for the first time. Female clubs from France, including Graine Rugby de Montpellier and Clamart/Plessis-Meudon Rugby, will compete against women's sides from Morocco's Eastern Rugby League. Organizers describe this as a deliberate step toward greater inclusion and as a signal of the tournament's evolution beyond its original veterans' format. The participation of international women's clubs marks a broader shift in how beach rugby events in North Africa are positioning themselves within the global sport.
Moroccan rugby communities rally around a regional symbol
Beyond the international dimension, the tournament serves as a reunion for Morocco's domestic rugby community. Veterans' sides from Marrakech, Safi, Rabat, Fès, and Oujda will all be represented. Local clubs including USO Rugby, AROR, Jeunesse de Saïdia, and the Bni Drar team are also taking part, reinforcing the event's role as a grassroots gathering as much as a competitive fixture. AAJRO, a non-profit founded in September 2015 by former players from Oujda's rugby clubs, has built the tournament around the sport's foundational values: solidarity, respect, discipline, and intergenerational exchange.
Saïdia as a sporting and tourism destination
The tournament contributes to a broader strategy to position Saïdia, nicknamed the "Blue Pearl of the Oriental," as a year-round sporting and leisure destination. The resort stretches across 14 kilometers of Mediterranean beach and sits near the Moulouya River, a classified biological and ecological site. It is served by airports in both Oujda and Nador. The Oriental region's tourism authorities are among the event's institutional partners, alongside Holmarcom Group, Morocco's national tourism promotion office, and provincial authorities from Berkane. The tournament is expected to bring a significant influx of visitors to the region during its four days of competition, conferences, and cultural programming.
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