UAE Rugby names first all-Emirati Sevens squad

UAE Rugby has announced the all-Emirati ‘Shaheen’ squad that will play Afghanistan in three 7-a-side Rugby developmental games this Friday at The Sevens ground.

The three games will be played at 3pm, 5.15pm and 7.30pm.

Supported by the IRB and ARFU the games form part of the strategic plan of both UAE Rugby and Afghanistan Rugby Unions and are integral in developing the respective countries indigenous rugby players from grass roots ‘touch and tag’, to 7’s to XV’s representative Rugby.

UAE Shaheen caused a sensation when they defeated higher-ranked Philippines to win the Shield competition in the Bangkok leg of the Asian Seven Series.

“We are very excited to see Shaheen, an all Emirati squad, run on to the pitch this Friday,” said Qais Al dhalai UAE Rugby’s deputy general secretary. “This is a major step in UAE Rugby’s strategic development plan to have a larger number of experienced Emirati players to call on to represent the UAE in future Rugby tournaments.”

“We know Afghanistan will be looking at walking away with wins, as are we, and it is in this spirit we look forward to three healthy competitive games,” he added.

New faces such as Saood Al Jawali will benefit greatly from the International 7’s and XV’s experience of fellow squad members including Mohammed Shaker, Yousef Shaker, Ali Mohamed Ghulam and Cyrus Homayoun.

The Asian 5 Nations Division 4 finals will also be played at 5pm and 7pm, leading into the main Top 5 UAE National XV’s vs Hong Kong National XV’s game at 8pm. \

The 11-man squad is Saood Aljawali, Abdulla Al Nuaimi, Mohammed Hassan,  Mohanned Shaker, Yousef Shaker, Hassan Al Noobi, Cyrus Homayoun, Bassam Azqami,  Ali Mohamed Ghulam, Mohammed Alawi and Hassan Jovani.

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