Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Rugby Club kicks off its new season this weekend with a full schedule of events aimed to coincide with the much awaited start of the Rugby World Cup.
It will also be a chance for the Club to acknowledge the support of their new major sponsor the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD).
Tomorrow night is the Club registration and welcome back fair at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, where players, supporters, administrators and sponsors of the 600 strong club will meet for the first time for the season, welcoming new members and sponsors and unveiling the Club's plans for 2007/2008.
Club's new chairman, Richard Harris said: "It starts at 6.30 pm and at Crowne Plaza Hotel's ballroom. The clubs sponsors including NBAD, Spinneys, Crowne Plaza, Nexus Insurance Brokers, Cegelec and Etihad have been invited to set up stalls along with kit provider Gilbert to introduce themselves to the clubs members."
"Friday and Saturday will see a record numbers of the Club's coaches attending the International Rugby Board (IRB) Level 2 Coaching Course run under the auspices of the Arabian Gulf Rugby Union.
Key event
"Assessors Bruce Morton and Gaith Jalajel will lead the two-day course. There are at least 34 coaches in the club with the majority been involved in the ever expanding junior section," he said. On Friday evening the Abu Dhabi Men's team play a trial match against the Dubai Dragons with the game kicking off at 7.00 pm. Both teams will play experimental sides with Abu Dhabi's Player/Coach Jo Czerpak eager to see a number of new players in action.
The former England U-19 International has had strong showings at training over the past two months and will be looking in particular at the form of former Gulf Rep Duard Hoffman who is returning after a year away from the sport and new recruits, Michael Stain, Alistair Thompson, "Tall As" Wilf and Dion Marchioni.
Abu Dhabi Men's team play a trial match against the Dubai Dragons on Friday evening.
