Officials at the UAE Rugby Federation say they are considering a target system similar to that employed by South Africa, in regard to black players, in order to increase Emirati participation in the domestic game.
The UAE is represented exclusively by passport holders at international level in the sevens format.
However, there are virtually no Emiratis playing regular rugby at first-team level in the expatriate dominated domestic league.
The significant disconnect between the two has been told in the results of the national team.
The UAE struggled to compete in the Asian Sevens series this season and lost all their matches at the Dubai Rugby Sevens at the end of November.
The governing body wants to remedy the problem and has formed a new Integration Committee, made up of three federation board members and three club chairmen, to help promote the cause of UAE nationals.
“Most clubs are having the appetite to recruit Emiratis players. Well they raised their hands and this is much appreciated,” said Qais Al Dhalai, the secretary general of the federation.
“Now members who sit on this committee will decide what is the proper and ideal way to do it, looking at the international systems we’ve witnessed.
“In 2007, Oregan Hoskins, the president of South African rugby union, adopted a constitutional change to speed up the black players’ transformation into the Springboks and the Super 15 franchises.
“This is one of the processes that might be considered.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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