Two all-Emirati representative sides will feature in this weekend’s Chennai Rugby Sevens tournament at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in India.
It is first time that the UAE has sent two teams made up solely of Emiratis to compete overseas.
The UAE Shaheen team will face India, Iran, Laos and Uzbekistan in the Asian pre-Olympics qualifying tournament on Saturday, with the Dubai Airports Shaheen taking on India A, Bangladesh and Nepal in the Asian Rugby Football Union development sevens tournament on Sunday.
Sending two teams to compete is all part of the UAE Rugby Federation's (UAERF) plans to have more Emiratis representing the national team and it comes through its combined efforts with the HSBC Player Pathway Programme.
The programme boasts more than 3,000 Emirati players in its schools programme with the support of the UAE-based clubs in encouraging Emirati player participation. The Dubai Airports Shaheen is a development team that takes part in continued involvement in UAERF domestic and ARFU regional competitions.
Qais Al Dhalai, the UAERF’s secretary general, described sending two teams to the Chennai sevens as a milestone for Emirati rugby.
“We are very proud to see the efforts of our team and our supporters come to fruition,” he said.
“We are excited to see young, talented Emirati players successfully move through the HSBC Player Pathway Programme from the Dubai Airports Shaheen development games against Fiji and in the recent Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens.
“They now represent their country as part of the Emirates Airline National Sevens team in an international tournament.
"We are equally excited to see the next generation of young Emirati players join Dubai Airports Shaheen and, through the ARFU Development Sevens tournament, get the thrilling taste of competing for their country at an international event."
The UAERF has announced that the annual Ultimate Recognition Award will be renamed in honour of the federation’s former strategic advisory committee member Neil Palmer, who passed away suddenly last month at age 45.
The founder and chairman of the Arabian Knights Rugby Football Club died at his home in Victory Heights, Dubai, and was an influential figure in the expansion of the sport in this country.
Al Dhalai said the Neil Palmer Award, to be given out next month, recognises those within the UAE rugby fraternity who have invested their time, energy and passion, and who made a significant contribution to grow the game in the country.
“Neil was a passionate ambassador of the game. He remained a true servant to its code and honour, and embraced the future of the UAE game, the Emirati youngsters and its opportunities with belief and commitment,” Al Dhalai said.
“We were proud to have had the opportunity to work closely with Neil and look forward to seeing his legacy continue to grow.”
apassela@thenational.ae
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