Big boost for UAE rugby as National Schoolboys final goes mainstream

Matt Jones - Editor 07:51 07/12/2014
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  • On top: Al Maarif (blue) beat Al Ain.

     The UAE Rugby Federation has now “set the precedent” for aspir­ing young Emirati players after the HSBC UAE National Schoolboys final at the Dubai Rugby Sevens was televised and played on the main pitch for the first time.

    UAE RF secretary general Qais Al Dhalai said after Al Maarif’s last gasp 19-15 win over Al Ain Mixed Schools yesterday that future finals will now be played at 7he Sevens Stadium and therefore feature on television.

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    In an impressively entertain­ing final, Al Maarif, from Dubai, scored a try in the last minute to snatch victory over the reigning champions.

    Rising Emirati talent Yousif Lashkari, who is taking giant strides with the UAE national sev­ens team, clinched an epic win with a try in the last few seconds, which was converted to give Al Maarif a memorable victory.

    Lashkari, 18, was named Young Emirati Player of the Year ear­lier this year, and his scored added to tries from Jamal Ahmed and Ahmed Maktoum.

    Al Maarif’s win was played out in front of 40,000 spectators.

    Al Dhalai said: “We have now set the precedent. Next year every Emirati player will have the moti­vation to be on pitch one.

    “This is what we have been work­ing with World Rugby for, because the schedule is very tight, but they want to support us and they gave us the opportunity to play on pitch one this year and it will always be like this now, it will never change.

    “The final of the school’s tourna­ment will always be on pitch one.”

    All eight schools that competed in the tournament are part of the UAE Rugby Player Pathway Pro­gramme, launched in partnership with HSBC in 2012 to promote the sport of rugby to young Emiratis.

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