Rugby Africa Women’s Cup: Police Officer Rakotoarison Leads Madagascar Survival Fight

The Madagascar veteran juggles motherhood, police duty and rugby as the Lady Makis battle Uganda to avoid relegation in Nairobi.

NAIROBI, Kenya – Madagascar women’s rugby star Felaniaina Jeannie Rakotoarison is a woman of extraordinary versatility.

 

A wife, mother, Malagasy rugby icon, athlete and university graduate, she also works as a municipal police officer when she is not dishing out hard-hitting tackles on the rugby field.

“I work, but I’m fortunate enough to have time to train,” Rakotoarison tells Rugby Africa Media.

“My employer allows me to do this during my working hours. Once the training is finished, I return to my position at work. However, during weeks when a match is scheduled for the weekend, I do not return to work, and can go home.

“When I’m at work, someone helps me take care of the children. However, at the end of my workday or when I stay at home, I do my household chores, as well as childcare. I try to make the most of these moments — to take care of my family and to let them know how precious they are to me. I want them to know that I am always by their side.”

At 33 years old, Rakotoarison has built her reputation on courage, discipline and perseverance.

Rugby is the most popular team sport in Madagascar, the Indian Ocean island nation of more than 30 million people. In her homeland, Rakotoarison is regarded as both a hero and role model — described by local media and admirers alike as the perfect image of the Malagasy woman: resilient in the face of challenges and relentless in pursuing her dreams.

“Currently, I am committed to coaching young children at the rugby school of Andavamamba, as an educator,” she says.

“My goal is to encourage them not only to excel in school, but also to pursue their passion for rugby. I firmly believe that personal time and studies should never be an obstacle to practicing rugby. However, it is essential to know how to organise one’s schedule well.”

A lock forward in the 15s format, the powerfully-built Rakotoarison has featured for Madagascar in their opening two matches of the 2026 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup currently underway in Nairobi.

The Lady Makis opened their campaign with a 64-5 defeat to defending champions South Africa before suffering another heavy loss, 57-0, to hosts Kenya on Wednesday, 27 May.

Madagascar will conclude their campaign against Uganda on Sunday, 31 May, in a decisive relegation battle.

While South Africa and Kenya contest the title, Madagascar and Uganda — the tournament’s only winless sides — will fight to remain in Africa’s top tier.

The winner will secure survival, while the losing side will be relegated and fall out of contention for qualification to the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Rakotoarison is expected to play a key role in Madagascar’s bid to avoid demotion.

Her rugby journey began in 2009 at the rugby school of Antsirabe, a women’s club in the Vakinankaratra region of Madagascar.

Initially uncertain whether she could cope with the physical demands of rugby, particularly at a time when female participation in the sport remained limited in her country, Rakotoarison quickly impressed coaches with her determination and discipline.

Two years later, in 2011, she officially joined Antsirabe — known as RCA — where she continued developing both her talent and leadership on the field.

The year 2012 proved a turning point in her career.

Only a few years after taking up rugby, Rakotoarison earned her first senior national team call-up to the Lady Makis. That same year, she also joined Madagascar’s Under-20 side and competed in the Indian Ocean Rugby Association tournament on Réunion Island.

Since then, her international career has steadily grown.

Rakotoarison first featured at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Kenya in 2014 and soon established herself as one of Madagascar’s most influential players.

Between 2015 and 2016, she moved to the capital Antananarivo, where she enjoyed club success with 3FB and FTM while also representing Madagascar’s Sevens side in Olympic qualification campaigns.

Further Rugby Africa Women’s Cup appearances followed in Zimbabwe and Botswana between 2017 and 2022.

One of the highlights of her international career came at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town, where she represented Madagascar on one of rugby’s biggest stages.

In 2024, she helped Madagascar win a silver medal in the women’s Sevens competition at the African Games in Ghana.

That same year, she also contributed significantly to Madagascar’s qualification for the WXV3 tournament in Dubai during the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens campaign.

Away from rugby, Rakotoarison has also excelled academically.

In 2011, she obtained a Baccalaureate Diploma in the G2 Series. She later earned a Higher Technician Diploma in Management in 2013, followed by a Bachelor’s Degree in Management in 2014.

Alongside her sporting career, she successfully passed the Municipal Police examination for the Urban Commune of Antananarivo in 2021 — another example of her ability to balance multiple responsibilities.

“Before starting family, I had already obtained my academic degree,” says Rakotoarison.

“However, even after starting a family, I never stopped improving myself, and I managed to earn the DTS diploma. Knowing how to organise one’s time well is essential. This means that when I’m in a study period, I dedicate myself entirely to my classes. Once that is finished, I immerse myself into household duties, family and rugby.”

Rakotoarison remains a source of inspiration for Malagasy youth and young girls seeking to make their families and nation proud, both on and off the rugby field.

 

Where to watch?

Rugby Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RugbyAfrique

RugbyPass TV: https://rugbypass.tv

Match Day 1: Saturday 23 May 2026 (Local Kenya Time/EAT)

• 14:00 – South Africa (64) vs Madagascar (5)
• 16:00 – Kenya (43) vs Uganda (10)

 

Match Day 2: Wednesday 27 May 2026 (Local Kenya Time/EAT)

• 14:00 – South Africa (47) vs Uganda (20)
• 16:00 – Kenya (57) vs Madagascar (0)

 

Match Day 3: Sunday 31 May 2026 (Local Kenya Time/EAT)

• 14:00 – Uganda vs Madagascar
• 16:00 – South Africa vs Kenya

Written by Enock Muchinjo