Members of the RAK Goats rugby team practises on a field at the Ras Al Khaimah Academy. Antonie Robertson / The National
Members of the RAK Goats rugby team practises on a field at the Ras Al Khaimah Academy. Antonie Robertson / The National
Members of the RAK Goats rugby team practises on a field at the Ras Al Khaimah Academy. Antonie Robertson / The National
Members of the RAK Goats rugby team practises on a field at the Ras Al Khaimah Academy. Antonie Robertson / The National

UAE

Rugby side plays tournaments across the UAE but members say a full-sized pitch in the emirate would be the spur for Emiratis and children to get involved.

Melanie Swan

April 03, 2015

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RAS AL KHAIMAH // A rugby team in the emirate is looking to attract expatriate and Emirati players – but first it needs its own training ground.

The RAK Goats regularly compete in tournaments in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and Sharjah, but they lack a full-sized pitch for practise and tournaments.

That is constraining the growth of the sport in Ras Al Khaimah.

“There’s a lot of kids who are really keen on rugby but there’s nowhere they can play,” said Justin Clarke, 42, a co-founder of the Goats and head of physical education at RAK Academy, where the Goats practise.

“It’s about getting locals involved. A lot of parents are really keen for them to play, too.

“The kids love it and the physicality of the game. It gives the teams and the sport an identity when you have your own ground.”

It is not safe for children to play rugby without the necessary equipment, and the current pitch is in a poor condition, according to Mr Clarke. “You just can’t teach the basics correctly without the correct equipment, like contact shields and the scrum machine,” he said.

Thirty-two-year-old British expatriate Christopher Verrall, a winger for the Goats, believes there is a need to raise public awareness about the sport. He played rugby for the British army during his 13 years of service.

He said the army used rugby to teach controlled aggression, similar to how the UAE military teaches jiu-jitsu to its national service enlistees.

“We would love to have the young Emiratis come and join us. For those guys going to study in the UK, it’s a great skill to take with them, as it’s a big thing,” said Mr Verrall.

A training ground would be “something for the whole community”.

Rugby is becoming more popular with Emiratis. Last month, two all-Emirati sides featured in the Chennai Rugby Sevens tournament at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in India.

It was the first time that the UAE sent two teams comprised solely of Emiratis to compete overseas.

The UAE Rugby Federation also has plans to increase the number of Emirati players.

Irish expatriate Craig Howling said the sport helped him to fit into his new community when he initially felt isolated after moving to Ras Al Khaimah.

The stay-at-home father, 35, was overweight and did little to no exercise until joining the Goats six months ago.

“I couldn’t even run 20 metres with my kids without being out of breath,” he said. “I’ve got two kids and want to be able to keep up with them as they get older.

“It wasn’t so much about the weight but being happier inside myself and feeling fit, which I do feel now. I’m not a gym guy but I really needed to do something.”

Since joining the Goats, he has lost six kilograms and the team has given him a sense of belonging.

“It’s about coming together and the spirit of the club as a family,” he said.

“We could hold our own tournaments and bring more people to RAK. So many people don’t even know where RAK is.

“It would also be great for us to get Emirati players, which is one really important factor. We would love to have Emiratis as part of the family.”

mswan@thenational.ae

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