UAE rugby team to debut in Sri Lanka Sevens

Shaker brothers Yousef (left), Mohammad (centre) and Mohannad are members of the historic UAE national rugby team. (SUPPLIED)

Published Wednesday, November 24, 2010

By Allaam Ousman

The UAE national rugby team will create history when it makes international debut at the Sri Lanka Sevens in Colombo this weekend.

They will face a baptism of fire 16-team international competition on Saturday being drawn in the pool with Asian giants Japan, Kazakhstan and IRB Sevens Series title holders Samoa.

The fledgling UAE Rugby Association (UAERA) has assembled a 12-member squad comprising mostly Emiratis from Dubai Wasps Club for their maiden venture.

They also drafted Arabian Gulf Sevens coach Shane Thornton to finetune preparations for the event, comprising teams competing in the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens next weekend which will also see New Zealand and Fiji.

“It is a historic visit. This was the first chance we got and we could not let it go despite having a big rugby weekend ahead of us. We are also going to see how our team plays outside UAE,” said Mohammad Falaknaz, Chairman of the UAERA.

“Our aim is to raise the UAE flag in every arena,” he said. “It’s not about winning but participation.”

“We have always been preparing ourselves and the national team to participate outside,” confirming the appointment of Thornton as part-time coach.

“It is a very big step for us to form a UAE national team and go to Sri Lanka for this tournament. It is a huge milestone... to show the world that we do have a rugby team with UAE nationals,” Saoud Balshalat, board member of UAERA told 'Emirates 24|7'.

“It is an honour to play against Japan, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka and other teams. We are thankful to the organisers and all involved with the sport for giving us this opportunity to present the UAE national team,” said Balshalat who is the team manager.

It is a dream come true for Balshalat, who is considered a pioneer rugby promoter in the country having formed a team of UAE nationals called Falcons in 2005.

“We are trying our best to keep rugby going and develop UAE nationals. Our Chairman Mohammad Falaknaz and Vice-Chairman Faisal Al Zarouny are working hard along with board members towards this objective,” he said.

Asked why they chose to take part in this competition, Balshalat said: “Where ever there is rugby, we will try our best to be there. The more we play, the more experience we get, the more we develop and the more we put UAE on the map.”

Significantly, three siblings are part of the first UAE national squad that has been beefed up with UAE-based expatriates.

“We are excited to represent UAE and play against other national teams,” said Mohammad Shaker, 30, eldest of the trio with pride.

“We have been waiting for four years for this moment. Finally something is happening and everything is clear now,” said Mohammad who first played for UAE Falcons five years ago.

Yousef, 23, and Mohannad, 21, also have rugby in their blood and are passionate about the game.

Arabian Gulf players Mohammad Rahma, first Emirati to play for the Gulf, and teenage star Khalid Helal, are two key members of the side, which was described as a UAE development team by Thornton.

“It will be a great experience for Emiratis coming with us to play with the big boys. We are trying to bring Emiratis into the game. It’s all about development,” said the New Zealander who took charge of the squad just a week ago.

“It’s always going to be a tough battle when we take on a development side,” he said on their challenge.

“[Mohammed Al] Sulaiman is pretty fast and Khaled [Helal] strong,” said Thornton when asked about the players.

“It is probably going to open up a few eyes to their caliber when they play against top sides,” he said.

“It’s fantastic. It’s what the UAERA needed during the transition,” said Arabian Gulf Sevens captain Sean Hurley of the UAE team as he trained alongside them at Zabeel Park on Tuesday.

With Arabian Gulf also gearing up for the next weekend’s Dubai tournament, he said they would love to take part in the Sri Lanka event but for fear of injuries.

“It would be unfortunate if any member of the final squad would sufer any injuries...it would be difficult,” he said.

UAE squad for Sri Lanka Sevens: Andrew Russell (South African), Cyrus Homayoum (UAE), Hayden Palmer (British), Duncan Murray (British), Bayron Kraemer (South African), Khaled Helal (British), Mohannad Shaker (UAE), Yousef Shaker (UAE), Mohammad Shaker (UAE), Mohammad Rahma (UAE), Mohammad Al Sulaiman (UAE), Shane Thornton (coach), Lee Johnson (physio), Saoud Balshalat (team manager), Hamdan Suleiman (Executive Manager UAERA), Mohammad Falaknaz (Chairman UAERA) and Faisal Al Zarouny (Vice-Chairman UAERA).

Teams
Pool A: Spain, Malaysia, Fiji, Korea
Pool B: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Kenya, Germany
Pool C: Japan, Kazakhstan, Samoa, UAE
Pool D: South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, China

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The page was last updated on: 10 January 2016 03:42