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Al Dhalai left 'honoured and proud'

Dubai - UAE's Rugby's Qais Al Dhalai has been applauded and lauded for his role in developing the oval-ball game in this country.

UAE's Rugby's Qais Al Dhalai has been applauded and lauded for his role in developing the oval-ball game in this country - and the continent as a whole - by World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper.
In a letter from Gosper to Ibrahim Abdulmalik, the Secretary General of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare (GAYSW), Al Dhalai is acknowledged as a "highly respected member of the rugby family," who has "shown great leadership and commitment to the continued growth of the game in the UAE and the Asia Rugby region."
During his continued tenure as Secretary General of the UAE Rugby Federation (UAERF), Al Dhalai has also "worked tirelessly to ensure the UAERF continues to be a prominent and active member of World Rugby" in Gosper's written correspondence with Abdulmalik.
Such words of praise comes after a "recent evaluation conducted on all World Rugby member unions and the approval of upgrading the UAERF from D3 to D2 banding," Gosper's letter also stated.
"It's a great honour for me, my fellow board members and the members of the UAE Rugby management team to have received this global appreciation and trust from rugby's union international governing body (World Rugby)," Al Dhalai enthused.
"I am extremely proud that the labour of our efforts over the past five years, since the inclusion of the Sevens format into the Olympic Games and the subsequent formation of UAE Rugby, are coming to fruition and are being recognised by the highest bodies."
Al Dhalai was also keen to point out that his activities and endeavours extended beyond these shores and into neighbouring GCC nations and other Asian countries to boot.
"Our ambition does not stop at the local level; our goal to spread the game throughout the Gulf and neighbouring regions remains strong," he added.
"We are working very closely with Asia Rugby West Asia (AR WA) and Asia Rugby (AR), providing various ideas and programmes that will support the development of the game and increase player numbers, both in men's and women's divisions.
"My pilot and upcoming leading development project, which has been approved by AR and WR, will see the sport being played by the Palestinians in the state of Palestine and the refugee settlements in Syria and Jordan.
"These types of potential development actions will surely attract worldwide bodies, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and will fit their noble desires in line with the Olympic charter and values.
"Such worldwide recognition increases my enthusiasm and raises my spirits to continue my efforts in promoting this great game."