Dubai: The UAE Falcons, the national rugby league team of the Emirates, play their first international fixture of the season against Pakistan on Friday from 5pm at Dubai Sports City.
After a three-year hiatus due to sponsorship issues, those championing rugby's faster and more physical code in the UAE hope to bounce back from sporting obscurity with renewed vigour, both on and off the pitch this weekend.
A mainstay of Australia, New Zealand and parts of England, the rugby league was created in 1895 after a split from the union code over a pay dispute. The free-flowing format sees 13 players on each side, rather than the 15 in union.
Resurrection
Using the Pakistan match as a springboard back into the public conscience here, organisers hope the resurrection of league in the UAE can spur the set-up of an inaugural local four-club domestic competition. Such a prospect would result in international recognition and grant the UAE rights to qualify for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
With the new local rugby union season now finishing earlier in mid-March, there's time for union players to maintain fitness and play in a six-week, four-team rugby league round-robin.
At least that's the hope of chairman for the proposed Emirates National Rugby League, Sol Makdad, who sees no reason why the Falcons cant soar here.
Makdad said: "From the Pakistan match, we hope to revive the UAE Falcons and generate enough interest locally among players and sponsors to start a domestic league competition, because rugby league is one of the only sports not represented locally.
"After taking a break to restructure and get sponsors on board and a plan in place, we want to show we are now back with a vengeance. Given union's popularity, there's certainly scope for league rugby to hit it off."
Tough opponents
Captain Rama Chand, who plays centre, added: "Pakistan have some very big boys. They are solid and very confrontational, so you can expect collisions, which is what league rugby is all about. First and foremost, we're looking for the win, but it won't be the 60-0 thrashing fans expect. It will be tight with, we hope, some positive league rugby played."
Hooker Kyle Bennie, who is one of almost 45 players already in training, said: "We'd like to start our season and long-awaited return with a bang. We need to make a name for ourselves in the region quickly and our preparation under new coach Dennis Weir should enable us to do that with confidence.
Hotly contested match
"Pakistan are similar to us in that they are also an up-and-coming rugby league-playing nation, so this match will be hotly contested with much riding on it for the future of both teams."
Training sessions are held every Sunday from 7pm in Zabeel Park. For more information, call Rama Chand on 050 342 8372 or visit Emirates Rugby League's Facebook page.
