Major boost for UAE Rugby

Dubai: The UAE's Rugby Association has been given a major boost this week with the news that it has been granted associate member status by the International Rugby Board (IRB).

Only formed from the break up of the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union (AGRFU) 17 months ago, the IRB's green light could clear the path for full membership to be granted within a year.

The news follows the association's granting of Asian Rugby Football Union full membership status in June 2011.

Earlier this year, UAE Rugby was selected by the UAE General Authority of Youth and Sports as a strategic partner and received membership with the UAE National Olympic Committee.

The IRB credited UAE Rugby for creating a structured organisation with full-time administrators, a domestic league with 1,300 adult registered players and 4,600 youth players. It was also recognised that UAE Rugby continues to oversee and manage a seven-team annual domestic XVs Premiership league and an eight-team Conference competition.

The national XVs team was congratulated for its HSBC Asian 5 Nations Top 5 performances, where they finished third in 2011 and are currently in contention to retain their Top 5 status in 2012.

The newly-formed Emirati development squad, Shaheen, has also experienced international success by winning the shield competition at the Borneo sevens and various seven-a-side and 10-a-side friendly games.

The organisation continues to host and manage successful tournaments, including the newly-introduced Emirates Airline Cup of Nations XVs tournament.

UAE Rugby has also implemented pathway programmes for juniors at various Emirati schools, supported by HSBC, and has recently entered into an agreement with VEDC (Vocational Education Development Centre) to be the home of the first UAE Rugby Regional Development Centre.