The UAE had not planned on having an easy time of it when they designed their first programme of autumn Test matches.
They have an ambitious goal to try to qualify for the next World Cup, and they know they need to test themselves if they are going to get anywhere near it.
After their first November fixture, they have had their eyes opened as to just how much they need to do to be contenders for the big stage. They were soundly beaten 62-22 by Zimbabwe at The Sevens, Dubai.
At least there were a couple of positives. This was more Test match experience for the UAE players who usually only get together every summer.
Plus, the last time they played Zimbabwe – 12 years ago – they had lost 65-14, so at least they are getting closer.
Dubai had got an appetite for Test match rugby in June, when the national team won home games against South Korea and Malaysia on this same field.
Those wins carried them to second place in the Asian Rugby Championship (ARC). A repeat of that next summer would give them a place in the repechage competition for qualifying for the 24-team World Cup in Australia in 2027.
They hope to go one better than that, though. The winners of the continent’s top competition will go direct to the World Cup. Staging these two autumn Tests, first against Zimbabwe, then Germany next week, is part of the master plan to try to make that possible.
The winners of the ARC were Hong Kong, a side who have been leading the field in Asian rugby – at least since Japan stepped out of continental competition – for some years now.
Hong Kong are 22nd in the world rankings, and the UAE are trying to bridge the divide – hence the invitation to sides who are of a similar standing to them.
Ahead of the game, Zimbabwe were ranked 29th in the world, which is 21 places above their hosts. Even within the pedigree of their players, the difference showed.
For example, Ian Prior, Zimbabwe’s fly-half, has experience of the top level of club rugby, having played for three Super Rugby franchises in the past.
Like in June, there was a healthy crowd, even bigger, in fact, than for either of those ARC matches. Unlike back then, though, the majority were supporting the opposition, with many wearing Zimbabwe Sables shirts.
The atmosphere they created made it feel more like the Harare Sports Club than Pitch 1 at The Sevens. They only took a break from singing to cheer their side’s tries. They frequently lost their flow, given the away side’s dominance.
There was an early indicator that it was going to be a tough night for the hosts, given that the first try was a penalty try.
At that point things were looking ominous for the UAE, as they had just 13 players on the field, with both their second rowers, Esekaia Dranibota and Stephen Ferguson, in the sin-bin.
With both still sat there, powerless to help out, Zimbabwe added another, as Godfrey Muzanargwo powered over.
When both locks were restored, the UAE finally tasted a little bit of joy. With 10 minutes of rest, Ferguson and Dranibota helped crush a scrum, which earned the home team a penalty and shot at goal. Although it was dragged wide, it at least felt like an end to the one-way traffic.
Not so. Zimbabwe regained possession, broke, and scored their third try, through scrum half Hilton Mudariki.
Handre Snetler scored the hosts’ first points straight after but again, it only served to make the Sables angry. They extended their advantage as winger Edward Sigauke raced over, and had a 36-3 lead at the break when Mudariki touched down his second.
The UAE showed fight after the restart, with tries from Epeli Davetawalu and Dranibota. When Conor Kennedy nailed a touchline – against the country of his birth – it reduced the arrears to 36-15.
If the hosts thought there was a glimmer of a chance, they were mistaken, as their defence proceeded to crumble.
Zimbabwe scored four tries in rapid succession as the UAE melted away, with Sigauke completing his hat-trick in the process.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
THE DRAFT
The final phase of player recruitment for the T10 League has taken place, with UAE and Indian players being drafted to each of the eight teams.
Bengal Tigers
UAE players: Chirag Suri, Mohammed Usman
Indian: Zaheer Khan
Karachians
UAE players: Ahmed Raza, Ghulam Shabber
Indian: Pravin Tambe
Kerala Kings
UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Abdul Shakoor
Indian: RS Sodhi
Maratha Arabians
UAE players: Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
Indian: S Badrinath
Northern Warriors
UAE players: Imran Haider, Rahul Bhatia
Indian: Amitoze Singh
Pakhtoons
UAE players: Hafiz Kaleem, Sheer Walli
Indian: RP Singh
Punjabi Legends
UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Sandy Singh
Indian: Praveen Kumar
Rajputs
UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed
Indian: Munaf Patel
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
THE SPECS
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 680Nm
Price: Dh465,071
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
