Arabian Gulf hang up their boots
Saturday's semi-finals was the last match the team participated as new rules take effect
Dubai: With the curtains coming down on yet another edition of the Dubai Rugby Sevens, the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union (AGRFU) was laying to rest yet another page in the history of the game in the region.
Saturday was the last time ever that a joint team of the AGRFU participated in an international competition following the IRB Council's vote last year in favour of separate governing bodies in the Gulf countries instead of the common platform of AGRFU.
Effective from January 1, 2011 each of the Gulf countries will have to be represented by their own rugby associations with the objective of getting players and administrators from respective countries involved with the running of rugby.
"It's been emotional, very emotional," blurted AGRFU skipper Sean Hurley as he fought to hold back his tears. "We knew this was the last time Arabian Gulf was playing together, and although that was running in my mind, I think all the boys did an amazing job as a team."
In Saturday's Shield semi-final, the Gulf side led 19-7 against France. But the French fought back to win 26-19 and deny the AGRFU lads a one last glory.
The UAE Rugby Association (UAERA) has already been created with Mohammad Falaknaz as its chairman and the association has been working in close coordination with IRB representative Matthew Oakley to see that players from the country are actively involved in the structure and administration of rugby.
Consequently, Hurley and his teammates have suddenly found themselves without a team to represent in a sport they love so much.
A lot of deliberations have occurred to ensure players can continue alongside UAE nationals.
‘Too much politics'
"I have no idea and I don't even know what's in store for us all. Whether they are playing in the sevens or not playing, I really don't know. There is too much politics to get involved," Hurley shrugged.
Jonny MacDonald agreed. "For the last few years we have almost become a good team. We have been in that position to kill off a team, but we have not been able to do that and that is why we are very disappointed with how we ended," MacDonald said.
