Dubai: The UAE finished 10th out of 16 teams at the Mumbai Sevens on Sunday, losing the Bowl final 26-7 to China, in their third and final Asian Sevens Series outing this year.
Having lost earlier group games against Thailand 22-12 and Hong Kong 42-0, the UAE salvaged some pride with a win over India 24-14 on Saturday. They then beat Iran 17-14 on Sunday advancing to the semi-final and beating Kazakhstan 26-15.
With eighth-placed finishes at both Borneo and Shanghai in rounds one and two of the series last month, this latest ranking leaves the UAE 10th overall with 25 points between Malaysia in ninth on 26 points and Singapore in 11th on 18.
Having finished ninth in their debut appearance in this competition last year the initial target coming into this year’s series was sixth, although this was hastily revised to eighth overall after the opening two rounds. Despite missing their target, coach Wayne Marsters credited the team for achieving three wins in a tournament for the first time this series.
The UAE will not travel to the fourth and final leg of the Asian Sevens Series in Singapore, November 2-4, because this is a Rugby Sevens World Cup ranking tournament for next summer’s World Cup in Russia, a tournament the UAE, who have yet to become full members of the IRB [International Rugby Board], are not eligible to compete in.
