Steve Thompson calls for UAE residency rule concession
World Rugby should go easy on developing rugby nations, says 2003 World Cup winner
Dubai: World Rugby should make concessions for developing rugby nations in the wake of a proposed review of the three-year residency rule, according to Dubai-based former England player and UAE Rugby Federation adviser Steve Thompson.
At present, expatriates can represent the national team if they have lived in the UAE for more than three years. However, World Rugby is looking into the possibility of extending the necessary period of residency.
World Rugby wants to avoid cases of players leaving the likes of Fiji or Samoa to play for England, for example. But in the case of a developing rugby nation like the UAE, which relies upon a transient expatriate population to bolster its squad, extending the residency rule would have a detrimental impact.
With that in mind, Thompson, 37, a former England hooker who won the Rugby World Cup in 2003, said there should be a two-tier approach to the review.
“The residency rule for Tier A teams could be increased, but with Tier B they should ease off a little bit,” Thompson told Gulf News. “They know we’re growing the game. You can’t say ‘right we want to take a nation that’s never played rugby before and put them on the international scene’ because all they are going to do is get hammered and not want to play anymore.
“You’ve got to get the Emirati players involved in the mix and bring them into the blend gradually. The expatriates should see Emiratis coming in as a good thing and realise this is their opportunity to leave a legacy on the country. In ten years’ time they can look back and say ‘I was part of that’ and that’s what rugby is all about.”
A mixed Emirati and expatriate UAE side finished ninth out of 12 teams in the first leg of the three-stage Asian Sevens Series in Qingdao, China, on Sunday.
Despite opening with group stage defeats to Philippines 20-0 and Hong Kong 24-0 on Saturday, the UAE regrouped with bowl semi-final and final wins over Chinese Taipei 24-12 and Singapore 15-7 respectively on Sunday. The series now moves on to Bangkok, Thailand, on September 26 and 27 and Colombo, Sri Lanka, on October 10 and 11. The UAE’s overall target is a top eight finish.
