Dubai All-Stars test for Abu Dhabi Select

The Dubai team has been selected from the emirate’s Exiles, Dragons, Hurricanes and Wasps squads by rugby star Lawson. — Supplied photo

Dubai Sports City will be this weekend’s venue for the second and final rugby face-off between the all-star Dubai and Abu Dhabi squads assembled for the inaugural Bill McLaren Foundation Challenge Cup in the Arab world on Friday at Dubai Sports City at 6pm.

The Dubai team, selected from the emirate’s Exiles, Dragons, Hurricanes and Wasps squads by Scottish rugby star Rory Lawson, will look to avenge last week’s 40-24 defeat at the hands of the Abu Dhabi side at Zayed Sports City. The Abu Dhabi team is made up of Harlequin and Saracens players.

The rugby games are at the heart of a three-tiered series in aid of the sporting ethos personified by Bill McLaren, the world-renowned ‘voice of rugby.’ Other events include a fundraising long lunch headlined by South African rugby captain John Smit at the Emirates Golf Club on Thursday. Smit, former Scotland captain Jason White and Lawson will share their experiences at the interactive event.

Duncan Anderson, CEO of Abu Dhabi-headquartered Gulf Marine Services, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring another Bill McLaren Foundation sporting series which combines a worthy cause in terms of charity with some entertaining quality rugby. GMS is always happy to support the growth of rugby in the UAE and hopes this event will lead to more of its kind in the emirates in the future.” McLaren, a promising rugby player and coach before turning commentator, ruled the BBC Radio and Television rugby airwaves for nearly 50 years. His unmatched depth of knowledge about the game and its players was matched only by his modesty, his respect for winners and losers alike and his true sportsmanship, all leading to his becoming the first non-international to be inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.

Dubai Squad: Janco Fourie Exiles, Sean Crombie, Sandy Burley Dragons, Conor Coakley Hurricanes, Scott Hutton Exiles, Adam Telford Niall Statham Dragons, Jason White Guest, Kris Greene Dragons, Andy Powell, Oli Johnson Hurricanes, Murray Strang Dragons, Mike Lancaster Wasps, Sean Carey Hurricanes, Imad Reyal Dragons, Chris Gregory Hurricanes, Al Golding Dragons, Liam Andrews Exiles, Sean O’Hiairnan Wasps, Paul Hart Dragons, Josh Ives, Danny Rapallo Wasps, Andy Longley Hurricanes, Charlie Sargent Exiles, Gareth Bacon Exiles, Ian Sinclair Dragons

Abu Dhabi Squad: Chris Jones Griffiths Harlequins, Jason De Boize Saracens, Christy McCormick, Phil Abraham Harlequins, Alex Gonzalez Saracens, Phil Brady, Eddie Talbot, Clendon Pene, Billy Graham, Harelequins Ali Thomson, Ian Huges, Dyan Gage, Saracens, Ben Bolger, Ed Lewsey, Patrick Hegarty, Luke Stephenson, Jeremy Manning Harlequins, Douglas Steele Saracens, Iziq Foa’I Harlequins, Josh Dransfield, John Coutts Saracens, Chris Marshall, Matt Hutchins, Rob Buaserau.