Dubai: The UAE Rugby Federation will adapt if World Rugby push forward with proposals to review the current three-year residency rule, according to UAE coach Roelof Kotze.
At present, expatriates can represent the national team if they have lived in the UAE for over three-years. However, World Rugby is looking into the possibility of extending the necessary period of residency.
World Rugby wants to avoid cases of players leaving the likes of Fiji or Samoa to play for England, for example. But in the case of a developing rugby nation like the UAE which relies upon a transient expatriate population to bolster its squad, extending the residency rule would have a massive impact.
“I’ve heard they are making it longer than three years,” Kotze said of the ruling. “I think that will make it difficult for us as a lot of our boys don’t stay longer than three years, we’re lucky if we get more than one season out of them.
“Their jobs are of such nature that they only stay three to four years, so we only get one year with them and we are lucky to get a second season out of that player. If he really likes his job we may get a few more seasons.
“It will impact on us to a large extent in a negative way, but we’ll adapt and we’ll plan,” he said. “It’s not the greatest plan for us but whatever the powers that be decide we will have to fall in place.”
A mixed Emirati and expatriate UAE side are currently preparing for the opening leg of the three stage Asian Sevens Series in Qingdao, China, from September 5-6. Kotze has targeted a top eight finish in the 12-team series, which heads to Bangkok, Thailand, September 26-27, and Colombo, Sri Lanka, October 10-11.
“I think it’s realistic,” said Kotze of his side’s top eight target. “Look at the rankings and Japan and Hong Kong are top two. South Korea and Sri Lanka make up the top four. Then come The Philippines, Malaysia, China and Chinese Taipei in the top eight. Next it’s Singapore, Thailand, us and Kazakhstan.
“We should be able to compete with Chinese Taipei and Malaysia. Last year we pushed Malaysia a few times. We should be somewhere in that region.
“The top two is consistent but the next six swap around regularly. We can get there. We can do it,” he added.
The UAE are grouped alongside Hong Kong and Philippines in Qingdao. “We don’t have an easy start, we’re in a tough pool,” said Kotze. “Both games will be tough and we have to win at least one to reach our target of top eight. It will be really tough. It’s not an easy pool to get out of, but we will do our best and hopefully come away with some results.”
