The Doverie Rugby Club from Zelenograd, Moscow, ran away with top honours in the under-17 category at the Dubai Exiles Mini Challenge held at Al Awir yesterday.
The two-day festival the only one of its kind at the junior level in the UAE attracted a strong international participation.
The festival, sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, Emirates airline and Airbus Industries, attracted more than 750 children this year.
With Bahrain not turning up, the under-17 tournament became a five-team competition.
The Doverie side from Russia were simply too strong as they maintained a clean record in their four league matches to end with 12 points.
Their strongest opponents came in the form of the team from Dubai College. However, the Russians culled out a win to finish at the top of the standings.
In the fight for second place, Dubai College got the better of hosts Dubai Exiles 15-0 with Tomos Roderick (2) and Sean Gould crossing over for tries.
"This was the best preparation for us for this year's national league," stated Vladimir Yevdokimov, the Doverie team coach.
In the lower age divisions, teams from Dubai Exiles dominated, winning five titles. "These are the stars of the future," noted Jim Lees, the Exiles chairman.
Meanwhile, Doverie will play an exhibition match against Dubai Exiles at 6.30 pm on Monday.
Results
U-7s: 1. Dubai Exiles; 2. Kuwait
U-8s: Dubai Exiles; 2. Abu Dhabi
U-9s: Dubai Exiles; Abu Dhabi
U-10s: 1. Dubai Exiles; 2. Doha
U-11s: 1. Dubai Exiles; 2. Abu Dhabi
U-12s: English College; 2. Dubai Exiles
U-13s: English College; 2. Dubai Exiles
U-14s: English College; 2. Synergenca (Russia)
U-17s: Doverie (Russia); 2. English College.
