ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar – Adam Telford missed the chance of a fitting swansong to one of the finest UAE rugby careers, after he was forced to return home from Madagascar before facing the national team.
A combination of family commitments and convoluted flight connections from Antananarivo to Dubai meant he had to fly home hours before his touring side played the side ranked No 42 in the world.
He had hoped the match for the Air Seychelles Mike Ballard Foundation Conquistadors would be the finale to his senior career, as he is now set to retire from playing.
However the match, which had already been rearranged once because of a grenade blast in the capital city last weekend, was postponed again on Friday due to concerns over the state of the pitch.
The tourists had pushed for a Sunday morning kickoff for the revised match, specifically so Telford could play, but it was not to be.
“I looked into changing flights, but it was not going to be possible, and I think in a case like this I needed to put family first,” Telford said. “This game was not to win the league, or a cup final. I have played for UAE, so I have international caps and have experienced that sort of game. The aim of this trip is the charity aspect rather than the game. Weighing it all up, I had to make the choice of family first. It is a shame, but I don’t think I’ll regret the decision.”
The Irishman captained the UAE for two seasons and was a vital part of the Jebel Ali Dragons side that won consecutive domestic trebles in 2012 and 2013.
He turns 35 in October and has suffered a variety of long-term injuries in recent seasons, including a herniated disc and a medial ligament injury this term.
“The body has been telling me for a while it is time to hang up the boots,” Telford said. “I am still going to be involved with the Dragons, and play vets and social things, but it is time to step down. I have a young family and whenever I am injured it has been difficult to help out around the house. I have played rugby since I was 4, won everything with Dragons, captained the UAE, won five caps, and we were promoted this year. I have done everything I want to do in Gulf rugby.”
His absence will be keenly felt by both club and country. The Dragons are in the throes of transition after a disappointing campaign last time out, and with Henry Paul, the former England player, arriving as their new coach.
Telford was such a valued part of the UAE setup that Apollo Perelini, the coach, recruited him as a forwards coach for the successful tour to Uzbekistan, after a knee injury ruled Telford out of playing.
The No 8 regards being picked by Roelof Kotze, the former coach, to captain the UAE as the favourite moment of his time in Gulf rugby.
“When I was told I was going to be captain of the UAE for the first time, it was such a sense of pride,” Telford said. “I wasn’t expecting it at all. I had been training hard, but I wasn’t captain of the Dragons, and had only one ever captained my club side back at home.
“It was brilliant. A great feeling. I think Roelof liked how I played on the pitch. Other players would be a lot chattier, whereas I would try to lead by example, play quite hard, and go for big tackles.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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