UAE Rugby embark on Singapore adventure with fresh confidence
UAE Rugby will take part in the fourth and final leg of the Asian Sevens Series in Singapore this weekend with new-found confidence buoyed by their success against Lebanon in the West Asian Sevens last week.
The all-Emirati UAE national sevens side stole a march over Lebanon winning the two-legged play-off for third and fourth place 22-7 and 19-7 after bouncing back from 21-0 down to lose the group tie against the inaugural winners of the West Asian Sevens 28-21.
UAE Rugby has been drawn with Malaysia and South Korea in the 12-team Singapore Sevens which will be held on Saturday November 9 and Sunday November 10.
Hong Kong has been grouped with China and hosts Singapore in the preliminary round, Japan are drawn with Thailand and Chinese Taipei, while Sri Lanka, Philippines and Indonesia form the other group.
UAE Rugby Federation (UAERF) have used the HSBC Asian Sevens Series to grant maximum international exposure to Emirati youth who have been identified as future stars through the HSBC Player Pathway Program.
The tour squads for the previous legs of the Series in Malaysia, Thailand and India have seen a mix of senior players and talented youngsters even handing a debut to 16 year-old Yousef Lashkri in Mumbai.
UAE will miss the services of regulars Hareb Al Azri, Taleb Alkhaja, Walid Salem, Mohannad Shaker and skipper Yousif Shaker for the Singapore Sevens due to work commitments and injuries, according to UAERF general secretary Qais Abdulla Al Dhalai.
Cyrus Pourhomayoun will wear the captain's arm band once again in this tournament.
This have given an opportunity for three players to make their debut on the international stage.
They are 18 year-old Juma Naser, Saood Aljawali and Essa Alsuwaidi who are products of the Sharks Academy.
"Our confidence is growing. Earlier, our problem was defence but that is getting better and better," said Mohammed Shaker, UAERF's Manager of national representative team.
He expected something special from fliers Mohammed Abbas and Lashkri in Singapore. Abbas was one of the stars of the West Asian Sevens in which Lashkri scored his maiden international try.
Ali Ghulam, a key member of the squad, said they have improved with each tournament.
"The young boys have found that it is different from club rugby. They are gaining in confidence playing at the higher level. Their skills are also improving," said Ghulam, a former Dubai Wasps player.
It has also been an experience playing in different conditions for the UAE team.
"We are not used to playing in rain. When we get good conditions we can be a competitive," said Adel Alhindi, who has featured in all three legs of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series.
"It has been a massive improvement since Kuala Lumpur. Players are a lot more comfortable. The opposition is not intimidating for them," said Adel, 18, a product of Abu Dhabi Harlequins.
"We are learning to keep possession and working off our set plays. Defence has been big part of it. We are developing but we are getting there," said Adel who is a utility player whose favourite position is centre half.
He lauded the UAERF decision to field all Emiratis in this Series.
"Since they brought this new idea, it's been tough. That is the only way forward to try and compete in Asian Games. We have to start somewhere without delaying it," said Adel who is a University student majoring in Human Resources.
UAE Rugby recorded wins over Uzbekistan in Thailand and against Afghanistan in India but lost to India in the Shield finals on both occasions.
The UAE squad for Singapore Sevens is as follows:
1 Saheen Albeloshi
2 Ali Ghulam
3 Cyrus Ali
4 Adel Alhindi
5 Suhail Yaqoob
6 Saeed Al Muhairi
7 Mohamed Abbas
8 Yousef Lashkri
9 Adel Abdulla
10 Juma Naser
11 Saood Aljawali
12 Essa Alsuwaidi