UAE Rugby have named their squad for this weekend’s Borneo Sevens, with four Emirati players making the trip to Indonesia.
Dubai Wasps’ Shaker brothers, Mohannad and Yousef, have been joined by club-mate Mohammed Al Sulaiman and Jebel Ali Dragons back Cyrus Homayoun in the 12-man squad for the first HSBC Asian Sevens Series tournament of the new season.
The UAE, led by Abu Dhabi Harlequins back-row Renier Els, have been placed in Pool B alongside Hong Kong and Malaysia as they look to build on their ninth place finish last time out.
Coach Duncan Hall has also been boosted by the return from a broken leg of Andy Russell, who takes his place in the travelling party. They will open their campaign against Hong Kong at 11am (UAE).
“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,” national sevens coach Wayne Marsters said.
“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.”
UAE squad:
1. Steve Smith (Dubai Hurricanes)
2. Imad Reyal (Dubai Exiles)
3. Cyrus Homayoun (Jebel Ali Dragons)
4. Renier Els (C) (Abu Dhabi Harlequins)
5. Andy 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)
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