Abu Dhabi Harlequins will attempt to extend their excellence in all formats of rugby on Friday when they compete in the first Middle East Touch Championships in Al Ain.
The capital’s oldest club – the UAE champions in union and league – will be bidding for silverware in the non-contact version of the sport.
The fact they are not considered the outstanding side in the new tournament, shows the depth of quality of the competition.
More than 40 teams from Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, as well as England, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, India and Hong Kong, will be competing.
Playing Up, a side comprising many of the Heartbeat Tigers side from Dubai plus some New Zealand Touch internationals, are reckoned to be the team to beat.
“This tournament is an expression of the fact the game is taken seriously and that people want to play it to a serious level,” said John Larkins, the president of UAE Touch.
“With the game of touch rapidly expanding in the region and its ability to transcend gender, age, fitness levels and capability, the tournament’s aim is to emphasise the presence and growth of the game across the UAE and highlight its appeal.
“In response to the tremendous growth we have seen over the last three years in our schools, community and elite touch programmes, we feel the time is right to make our mark on the international stage.
“The Federation of International Touch has identified Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a key destination for the holding of international tournaments due to its accessible location and great facilities.”
Larkins hopes the event will become a fixture on the UAE’s sporting calendar. Friday’s matches start at 9am with the final to be played at 4.30pm.
The organisers hope the competition will help prove rugby’s non-contact format is a viable sport in it own right and not merely a warm up act for its better-known versions.
“We have had plenty of support and interest from both the local and international touch and sporting community,” said Victoria Hepworth of the tournament’s organising company, Corporate Affair.
“UAE Touch is using the tournament to pitch for the Touch World Club Championships to be hosted locally, so we are extremely pleased with the interest.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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