Dubai: Al Ahli Club Dubai made history on Thursday when one of their two teams competed on the opening day of the Dubai Rugby Sevens.

The club has a full-fledged rugby set-up at their premises in Al Ghusais and nearly 50 youngsters go through the paces under the watchful eye of New Zealand coach John Mamea Wilson, a former international with Samoa.

The second team will take part in the Gulf Sevens tournament that starts along the sidelines of the Dubai Sevens tomorrow.

"We are not here to make up the numbers. We are here to win the trophy as this would mean a valid certificate for all the hard work and dedication put in by all," said Saoud Bel Shalat, the team manager.

It took just four years for the dedicated group of UAE youngsters to come to this stage.

"John was my personal trainer and he showed me a rugby ball one day. I was piqued with the shape of the ball. The coach told me that the game is exciting and perhaps we should all try," Bel Shalat recalled.

"So the next day I called my friends...there were just seven of us and we got playing. Since then, it has been a real journey for all of us," added the 21-year-old.

Having the right connections in Al Ahli also helped as Bel Shalat approached the UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC) and was advised they should approach the board of directors of the club.

"The club was instant in their response and since then we have been training with the Sevens in mind," Bel Shalat said.

Sponsors too would have been an issue. But with the club backing them to the hilt, Desert Dream Real Estate and Investments LLC have come forward to sponsor the all-UAE outfit.

"Our company is about realising people's dreams. They came and asked us for support and we did not hesitate as we saw the dedication of these youngsters," Mohammad Khan, Chairman of Desert Dream Real Estate, said.

The sponsorship not only gives the rugby team the chance to have a proper kit and training facilities, but also allows them to travel in the region for competitions. Last month the team won the Plate competition at the Bahrain 10s.

"And we were one of two teams made up of only nationals [the other team was from Saudi Arabia]," said Yousuf Shakir, one of the star players in the new outfit.

"The world of rugby will be taken by surprise when they see a brand-new team of only UAE nationals," Bel Shalat said.