Dubai: The Pan Emirate Schools Rugby Tournament organised by the UAE Rugby Federation (UAERF) will kick off at 10am on Monday at Dubai Sports City’s indoor arena.
Six teams, each made up of 12-15 grade 10 students, will represent Dubai, Sharjah, Kalba, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah in the six-a-side touch rugby tournament.
“On April 14 UAERF development officers trained six coaches to implement the World Rugby ‘Get Into Rugby’ programme across six regions.” said rugby development manager Ben van Rooyen.
“Each region was provided with the necessary equipment and the coaches training was conducted in Arabic by the federation’s rugby development officers Sami Smara and Walid Naouali.”
Each of the training sessions was overseen by Van Rooyen to ensure all regions were making equal progress.
Now, in another step in the development of the sport into the Emirati community, the six regional teams are ready to compete in the first Pan Emirate Schools Rugby Tournament.
“This project is in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Education and World Rugby’s Get Into Rugby programme,” said UAERF secretary general Qais Al Dhalai. “We are thrilled with the amount of enthusiasm among the players and coaches.
“This is the first time that an inter-Emirate rugby tournament has been played and we are especially honoured by the recognition of the UAE Olympic Committee and its secretary general Mohammad Al Kamali.” added Al Dhalai.
