Dubai: The UAE Rugby Federation (UAERF) was recently recognised as a top five leader in the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) Get Into Rugby (GIR) programme in Asian Rugby Football Union’s (ARFU) region.
Out of the 21 ARFU members registered to deliver GIR, the UAERF sits in fifth place, with 2,419 boys and 1,584 girls participating in the programme’s first phase, ‘Try’.
‘Try’ focuses on introducing non-contact tag rugby to children who are new to the game and who have most likely never picked up a rugby ball.
It is followed by the ‘Play’ and ‘Stay’ phases, which are aimed at introducing players to contact rugby and then encouraging children to continue their participation in the game.
“We are thrilled with being recognised within the top five deliverers of ARFU’s GIR programme,” said UAERF development officer for Al Ain, Sami Smara.
“Interest in the game has been steadily growing in Al Ain since implementing the programme at the start of the 2012/13 season.”
Ben van Rooyen, UAERF development officer for Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, added: “It is very rewarding to see the efforts of our team, which includes the school administrators and the students, acknowledged. We are very excited to see the game grow and be so well received through this programme.”
Qais Al Dhalai, UAERF secretary general, said: “The UAERF is extremely proud to be amongst the top Asian nations in the GIR programme. We applaud Sami and Ben for their commitment and dedication to this programme and the future rugby-playing generation.”
