Dubai: Will Wood hopes to celebrate his 19th birthday in style by making his senior Arabian Gulf debut in the daunting 2007 World Cup qualifier against Japan in Tokyo later this month.
The former Dubai College pupil's call-up is a natural progression after captaining the Gulf's under-16 and under-19 teams.
Yet the back five forward says he was still "incredibly surprised" when told he had earned a place in the travelling party of 22 which leaves on his birthday, on April 13.
"I'm incredibly lucky to have this opportunity and the chance to play against a team of the standard of Japan," he said.
Squad member
Wood's parents moved to Dubai when he was just six, hence he has learned everything he knows about rugby thanks to his time here.
Current Gulf international centre Paul Austin, once his junior school PE teacher, is now a team-mate at Dubai Dragons whose club coach, Andy Jones, was also Wood's coach at Dubai College.
The youngster, who hopes to soon start studying for his commercial pilot's licence, has been an established member of the Dragons squad for two seasons.
The Gulf, through to the second round of Asian qualifying for France 2007, take on Japan on April 16 and then entertain Korea at Al Ain football club on May 5.
