Rugby Union: New gulf chief sets out goals

Dubai - He is new to the job. But with just six weeks to go before Dubai hosts the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens, new Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union (AGRFU) chairman Andrew Cole has little time to settle down.

The former AGRFU international already has his plans chalked out for the three-day spectacle which will be played at the new Sevens stadium from March 5-7.

And in a chat with XPRESS on the sidelines of the official draw ceremony for the World Cup, Cole explained why he won't underestimate the significance of the occasion.

“The first thing we got to do is to make sure that it's a success,'' said Cole. “It's going to be the biggest event that we will probably ever stage here. It could be many years before that comes around again. So we have to build on that profile.'' He added: “There are a lot of encouraging things going on around with nationals, not just in the UAE but also in Saudi Arabia and some of the other countries in the territory.

“There are lot of local schools participating in events now with locals getting into coaching and taking on coaching exams. So we need to build on that with what's going to happen at the World Cup. We've also got an opportunity to show rugby as a sport to the Olympic Committee.

So it's an opportunity for us to help rugby worldwide get into the Olympics.'' Cole, formerly a chairman of the Abu Dhabi RFC revealed his other ambitions. “Going forward, the reason I have been brought into the AGRFU is the commercial aspect. We need to raise awareness of rugby and raise the profile so we can brand the sport throughout the region. That's what my goal is really,'' he said.