A set of identical twin brothers described the feeling as “unreal” after following their mother and sister in playing a Pitch 1 final at the Emirates Dubai Sevens – and winning.
Omar and Elias Blommaert were part of a DESS College side who reclaimed the Gulf Under-19 Boys title in a thrilling final on Day 2.
In what has fast become the 'Clasico' of UAE schools rugby, they toppled defending champions Dubai College, who were the side that beat them in the corresponding fixture last season.
“I have never played on Pitch 1, so this feels unreal,” Omar Blommaert said after the 12-5 win over DC.
“We have all worked so hard to get here and I think we really deserve it. Seeing this many people here supporting you, I did not know what the feeling was going to be like.”
At times this weekend it has felt like the Blommaert family are staging a takeover of the Dubai Sevens. Elder sister Louka returned to the event for the first time in the colours of the Belgian national team on Friday, having represented Dubai Hurricanes with distinction in the past.
Younger sister Jade was part of a DESS College side who reached the semi-finals of the Gulf Under-19 Girls tournament, where they were beaten by DC.
And on Sunday’s final day, mother Elke will be hoping to tread the same turf as her boys did the previous evening by playing in the Gulf Women’s final. Her Dubai Hurricanes team are through to the quarter-finals of that event.
It was the memory of watching their mother and sister play on the same side in a Pitch 1 final in the past which fuelled the twin brothers’ aspiration to do the same.
“Since Year 7 I have thought I’d have a chance to be in the team and hopefully win a final on Pitch 1,” Omar said.
“Seeing my mum and sister play on that pitch made me want to do it as well. It feels amazing to do it, and with a sibling as well.”
It was a Pitch 1 debut for both the brothers, and Elias said the feeling in front of such a huge crowd was a thrilling one.
“The nerves were off the chart,” Elias said. “I could barely feel my fingers, I had a headache, and felt like throwing up as well.
“I was very nervous, and still am, actually. I can’t believe we won, and I am very happy to achieve it with this team, especially with my twin brother.”
The victory helped erase the dejection of 12 months earlier, when they had lost to the same side. Stefan de Jongh, the DESS College captain, said that feeling had fuelled their campaign this year.
“To be there again, it was incredible,” De Jongh said. “We have been craving it the whole year, to play in front of such a crowd, and the way we have worked for what we have achieved has been incredible.
“In XVs we lost the league to them by a couple of points. It has always been close between us, and this was a great game.
“This year [the nerves were] a lot bigger for me as captain, but I tried to keep my head. I love that experience of going out and seeing all your mates there supporting you. After last year, this was an even greater experience.”
There was double heartbreak in the course of about 20 minutes for DC. The boys’ defeat followed on directly after their girls’ side lost out at the same stage.
They were beaten by a single score by Dubai Warriors, who wrote their name on the Gulf Under-19 Girls title for the first time.
Matilda Hall scored a try in the corner in the second half, and later made the last-ditch try-saving tackle which denied DC a leveller and settled the game in their favour.
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French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
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The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
AGL AWARDS
Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)
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MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
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Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
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Indika
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