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29 March 2024

Four Emiratis in UAE Rugby squad for Borneo 7s

Published
By Staff

Four Emiratis have been named in UAE Rugby’s National Sevens squad that will compete in the HSBC Asian Rugby Sevens opener, the Borneo Sevens.
 
The series will kick off this weekend (September 1 and 2) at Likas Sports Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

A total of 12 teams will compete in the series opener with powerhouses of Japan, Hong Kong and China leading the charge.

UAE Rugby walks into this tournament sitting in ninth place (overall) and has been drawn into Pool 3 with Thailand, Sri Lanka and Singapore.

Andrew Russell will make a welcome return to UAE Rugby side from his broken leg suffered against Hong Kong in this years Asian 5 Nations.

Wayne Marsters, National Sevens coach and UAE Rugby’s Rugby Manager is confident his charges will put in a strong performance at the opening weekend.

“The boys have been working hard on their fitness and skills over the summer, and our selection pool has definitely been boosted by a number of players who have recently become eligible, which helps in such a transient environment.”

“Our goal for the series is to develop further as a team and we have put in place specific goals we need to achieve in each tournament, we’re confident we can tick these boxes,” he added. 

“With Sevens Rugby now an Olympic Sport we are focused on developing and increasing our Olympic qualified player pool. Subsequently we have four Emiratis playing with the Borneo squad,” said Qais Al Dhalai, Deputy Secretary UAE Rugby.

“Overall, competing in the Asian Rugby Sevens series is another important step in our union becoming a full member of the IRB.”

The Borneo Sevens forms the first of four competitions in the Asian Rugby Sevens series and will be followed by Shanghai Sevens (September 22 and 23), Mumbai Sevens (October 13 and 14) culminating with the Singapore Sevens (November 2 to 4) which also acts as the IRB’s 2013 Rugby World Cup Asian qualifier.

UAE Rugby will be participating in Borneo, Shanghai and Mumbai Sevens tournaments.

Game times for the Borneo Sevens will be drawn on Friday evening.

UAE Rugby squad

1. Steve Smith (Dubai Hurricanes)
2. Imad Reyal (Dubai Exiles)
3. Cyrus Homayoun (Jebel Ali Dragons)
4. Renier Els (Captain, Abu Dhabi Harlequins)
5. Andrew Russell (Jebel Ali Dragons)
6. Mohammed Al Sulaiman    (Dubai Wasps)
7. Byron Kraemer (Jebel Ali Dragons)
8. Mohannad Shaker (Dubai Wasps)
9. Yousef Shaker (Dubai Wasps)
10 Jono Bester (Dubai Wasps)               
11.Callum Stevens (Dubai Hurricanes)
12.Shaheer Reyal (UAE Rugby)

Management team:

Manager: Duncan Hall  

Physiotherapist: Simon Case