Oman-based players hoping for UAE call-up

Dubai: The only two Oman-based Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union (AGRFU) stars, Taif Al Delamie and Jason Voyce, have effectively had their international careers cut short, with Oman unlikely to form an association or have enough players to form a competitive national team in the foreseeable future.

"I can see why the IRB [International Rugby Board] has done this. But for me and Taif it leaves us with nothing to strive for past club rugby. Getting into the AGRFU team was something to aim for," rued Kiwi-born Voyce, 25, who plays as a lock.

Delamie and Voyce still hold out hope of being called up into the UAE RFU team where 70 per cent of their AGRFU teammates will now continue to play competitive international rugby.

But this would require the UAE RFU to write to the IRB and make a case to absorb these players under Regulation 8.

Regulation 8 allows someone of three-year residency to play for their national team. The UAE RFU would have to argue that there's no one else good enough to fulfil a certain role.

Inside centre Delamie, of mixed Irish-Omani descent has resided across the UAE, Ireland and Oman over the past three years. He said, "Obviously I'd want to try and get into the UAE team. I'd be hugely disappointed if not because I'd be missing out on the next step with the team."

A step too far

But AGRFU chairman Andrew Cole said, "Even if the IRB were to say yes, the UAE governing body is still unlikely to agree. My honest feeling is these guys should represent their own countries."

Cole said the AGRFU has already secured slots in the UAE RFU for Dubai-based expatriates based on the fact they can't otherwise get a team of 15 nationals with passports. To now ask for Delamie and Voyce to be included may be a step too far.

Questions may also be asked by the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) about the strength of the UAE's player base — if the UAE were to argue on health and safety grounds that without a certain technical player in a scrum it may collapse. "They could turn round and say well should you even be playing at this level?" said Cole.

"We're never going to find a perfect solution for everyone," said West Asia IRB project manager Matthew Oakley. "I think from the UAE RFU's point of view it would be quite unusual to fly someone in from Dublin to play rugby for the UAE, who's an Omani, who doesn't even live in Dubai."

"Voyce and Delamie's futures are quite different now, but they'll still have exactly the same if not better club rugby next season with new look cross-border leagues continuing and if they want to help form a national rugby association in Muscat I'll be there to assist them."

Meanwhile, despite a struggle, Qatar and Bahrain both look on course to set up associations and have just enough regulation eight expatriate players to field a sevens team in time for next season. Kuwait on the other hand remains a serious doubt. Still some players based in Qatar and Bahrain hold out hope of being accepted to play for the UAE.