Abu Dhabi: The UAE national rugby team will play the Bill McLaren Foundation at Zayed Sports City this Friday from 4.45pm. It continues the team’s preparation for the Asian Five Nations following Sunday’s 34-19 away win over Cyprus, where they have been on a training camp.
The Bill McLaren Foundation, named after the late Scottish television commentator known as “The Voice of Rugby”, was set up in his memory as a charity organisation, which promotes the values of rugby union by providing education and sporting opportunities for the young.
Duncan Anderson, the CEO of Gulf Marine Services (GMS), who are sponsoring the match, said: “GMS is delighted to be able to contribute to the Bill McLaren Foundation, which encourages young people throughout the world to get involved in the game of rugby union and the sporting values that come with it. If we as a company can assist the foundation while helping the UAE team prepare for an important competition, then we have scored twice.”
UAE Rugby Federation assistant secretary Qais Al Dhalai said: “Our Federation is aware of the wider responsibility of supporting and raising awareness of rugby’s overall values through the efforts of foundations such as the Bill McLaren Foundation.
“We are very pleased to work alongside GMS to assist in raising awareness of the Foundation’s goals through our Asian Five Nations preparations. And, as a number of the players in the Bill McLaren Foundation XV will be former UAE representatives, we are expecting a quality display of rugby,” he added.
Entry to watch the match at Abu Dhabi Zayed Sports City is free, and for more information about the Bill McLaren Foundation contact Alistair Thompson on +971 50 125 0656.