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UAE clubs to form rugby teams

Dubai - Nearly 5,000 Emiratis are playing rugby currently

The UAE rugby has seen a dramatic development in the last five years and two big national clubs are set to form teams, according to a senior official at the UAE Rugby Federation.
"The work is in progress to form teams at two clubs in the country," Qais Al Dhalai, secretary general, Asia Rugby & UAE Rugby Federation, told Khaleej Times.
He added that by September 2017, one club from Abu Dhabi and another from Dubai would play rugby matches. "It is just a start and we will keep building on that," he said, but refused to reveal the names of the clubs. "It is confidential."
Al Dhalai pointed out that since the formation of the rugby federation in the country in 2009, the sport has seen dramatic growth. "When the federation was officially formed we had a handful of players, may be 50, but today we have nearly 5,000 Emiratis playing rugby," he revealed.
"These Emirati players haven't come out of the blue, it is the result of very successful development programme," he enthused, adding that the federation began at the grass roots level. "We started with Grade 8-7-6 at our schools and we have developed them," he added.
He also pointed out that equal weightage was given to develop men as well as women players. "Our u18 girls team is ready and will play in an international event involving Asian countries at the Dubai Sports City from Wednesday. The final for which will be played at the Sevens Ground on Friday.
"Did anyone think of an UAE women's rugby team five years ago?" he wondered. The reality is that young Emirati girls are ready to lock horns with their Asian counterparts.
"We are only following our leaders," Al Dhalai, said about focus on developing women's rugby in the UAE. He cited that Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation, and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, has always advocated equal opportunities for women, not only in sport but every aspect of life.
On the Emirati women rugby players, he said that the Summer Olympics has had big impact on them. "They watched women rugby live during the Rio Games and are now motivated to excel and even nurturing a dream of playing in Olympics."
The World Rugby is aiming for 60-40 ratio of men and women's rugby and Al Dhalai revealed that currently the ratio in the UAE was 70-30.
"We are on track for further development of sport in the country," he assured.
sunilvaidya@khaleejtimes.com