Dubai: Banking giant HSBC has renewed its support of the UAE Rugby Federation’s (UAE RF) ‘Player Pathway Programme’ for another three years, while Land Rover has become a co-principal partner of the scheme in a multi-year agreement announced on Friday.

The programme was launched in 2012 and currently has 6,800 Emirati boys and girls from 30 national schools across Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and Dubai playing rugby with a view to one day representing their national team.

Thanks to the agreement, UAE RF secretary general Qais Al Dhalai said the union would be able to push towards getting 9,000 Emirati children involved by 2017, with the extra funding enabling them to employ a rugby development officer in the Northern Emirates.

Al Dhalai also expressed hope that the UAE RF would be able to up its World Rugby banding from development two (D2) tier to development one (D1) within two years.

“Before we signed with HSBC three years ago we were always thinking about how we can introduce the game to the Emirati population given that the UAE is a soccer-orientated country, not a rugby nation,” said Al Dhalai. “But now I am delighted that we have reached an exceptional moment with HSBC renewing and Land Rover joining forces.”

David Kotheimer, deputy chief executive officer and chief operating officer of HSBC Middle East, said: “Sport is integral to our identity, and as one of the biggest global supporters of rugby and golf it fills our everyday lives with happiness to know that we can have a positive influence on the grassroots growth of rugby in the UAE.”

Chris Wilde, brand director for Jaguar Land Rover MENA, added: “Land Rover has been at the heart of rugby from grassroots to elite level for over two decades and we share the same passion, resolve and integrity that sits right at the core of the game.

“We have a long history of supporting innovative projects and we are proud to add another initiative that shares our pioneering spirit.”

Brett Gosper, chief executive officer of World Rugby, was also at the announcement and said the ‘Player Pathway Programme’ was a benchmark for developing rugby nations.

“This is a model for a lower-end banded market to move up through that by the partnerships they create and the momentum they generate in order to bring new players to the sport. It’s a very good model to roll out,” he commented.