UAE Rugby announce inaugural Dubai Airports Sevens Tournament

The Inaugural Dubai Airports Sevens tournament will be played on Friday October 9 at The Sevens, UAE Rugby has announced.

This tournament has been designed for emerging teams to participate and be exposed to an international tournament against teams of the same skill and fitness.

Four teams will participate in the inaugural tournament, and include Dubai Airports UAE Shaheen, Saud Arabia, Lebanon, and the first all-Qatari National team.

“We (UAERF) worked very closely with the Qatar Rugby Federation during August to secure a full Qatari National Team, and we are very pleased to be able to announce their participation in the Dubai Airports Sevens," said UAERF board member Mohammed Shaker.

“Adding this tournament to the calendar is a very important step in the ongoing development of Emirati players,” said Apollo Perelini, Dubai Airports UAE Shaheen head coach. “It was very evident from Shaheen’s participation in Chennai that there is a place (for them), but we need to continually expose them to teams of similar standing.”

Anita Mehra, VP of Communications & Business Development at Dubai Airports said: "We are happy with the support and participation the tournament is receiving as this will add to the popularity of the event and also offer the Dubai Airports UAE Shaheen to try their mettle against quality competition. We will be rooting for them and we are positive they will make the country proud."

She added that Dubai Airports was proud to be supporting UAE National teams at Emirati grass roots level.

The tournament also serves as the first Arab Rugby Sevens Tournament under the auspices of World Rugby, Asia Rugby and the newly established the Arab Rugby Federation (ARF).

Qais Al Dhalai, UAE Rugby Federations Secretary General said: “This is an exciting and integral step in UAE Rugby’s mandate to assist and drive development of rugby amongst the indigenous population of our neighbouring, and emerging, countries. We look forward to welcoming these teams to Dubai and to a great day of Sevens rugby.”

"The meeting for the new ARF will be held in Dubai on 1st October 2015 with more than nine Arab rugby unions in attendance,” he added .
 

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