UAE Rugby to unleash Sri Lanka star at Colombo Sevens

UAE has recalled Sri Lankan-born Imad Reyal for the third and final leg of the Asian Sevens Series in Colombo this weekend.
 
The 23-year-old full back has become a household name in the UAE rugby community ever since he burst onto the scene four years ago.
 
A product of St. Anthony's, Katugastota and Trinity College, Kandy where he represented the 'Lions' in sevens rugby, Reyal is considered one of the hottest talents on the domestic circuit renowned for his goose stepping runs and dynamic pace.
 
Absent for the whole of last season as he pursued a professional contract in New Zealand, Reyal made a memorable debut for the UAE at the 2011 Dubai Rugby Sevens.
 
He scored a thrilling solo try against Samoa in the main international competition, but his international appearances have been sporadic since.
 
"I had a dream of playing for Arabian Gulf. When I qualified (through residency rule), they changed to UAE. Since my dream was to play for Arabian Gulf, I kept playing for UAE," said Reyal who was excited at the prospect of displaying his skills in front of home crowds.
 
"To be honest, I'm excited to play for the new UAE team. We never had a team like this. Now, actually we have a very good team," said Reyal who turns out for Jebel Ali Dragons.
 
The former Dubai Exiles and Abu Dhabi Harlequins full back has had a roller coaster ride since coming to Dubai in 2010.
 
"I just follow the dream I had from my young days. The other dream was to go to a big rugby nation and get a professional contract if I'm good enough," said Reyal who just returned after a stint in New Zealand.
 
Having initially travelled there on a scholarship to attend a rugby academy in Auckland, Reyal played for Bay of Plenty.
 
Reyal fits perfectly into UAE's aim to finish among the top eight in the Asian Sevens Series and core status in next season’s series for the first time.
 
The UAE sevens team want to send their departing coach, Roelof Kotze, back to South Africa on a 'historic' note, according captain Niall Statham.
 
The tournament in Sri Lanka will be the final assignment Kotze overseas before he ends his involvement with UAE rugby and returns to his homeland to take up a new job.
 
UAE will start the event ranked sixth in the standings with 11 points having reached the Plate final in Bangkok after winning the Bowl and finishing ninth in China in the opening leg.
 
"I wouldn't mind playing for Sri Lanka but it is better to play for UAE," said Reyal whose family has been in Dubai for a long time.
Imad seems to be following in the footsteps of a trailblazer in Arabian Gulf rugby, former Sri Lanka and Dubai Exiles scrum half Roger Rodrigo.

"I recently started working for Dnata so I could not make the Bangkok team," said Reyal who has not given up his dream of playing rugby professionally abroad.
 
The new Sri Lankan pocket dynamo is determined to go places in a sport that is not tailor-made for Asians.
 
"I'm really proud to represent UAE in sevens. Since I came to Dubai, it was my dream to play rugby. At the end of the day I make my family proud as well as people back home," said Reyal whose older brother Shaheer has also played for the UAE sevens team, while younger brother Adil has represented the country in senior international cricket.

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