Abu Dhabi Harlequins celebrated the 10th Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Harlequins Junior Rugby Festival by winning the Under-18s event yesterday.
The first final of the youth rugby spectacle went the way of the host club, whose first team blitzed Arabian Knights 1sts 48-0 in last night’s final at Zayed Sports City.
It was a fitting way to crown the tournament’s opening day, with the weekend set to attract a record 236 teams and more than 3,000 youngsters. Both sides had been pitch perfect in the group stages earlier in the day, winning three from three.
Knights had enjoyed comprehensive wins against Abu Dhabi Quins 2nds (43-0) and Muscat Pirates (73-0), as well as a 10-0 triumph over Dubai Hurricanes (10-0). Quins went into the final on the back of wins against Doha (40-0), Dubai Exiles (24-5) and Al Ain Amblers 2nds (24-10), but they blew away Knights in the final.
The biggest score of the day belonged to Dubai Exiles U14s 1sts who demolished Arabian Knights 2nds 86-0.
Tournament director Derren Sanders has been in charge of organising the event for the last three years and says: “It is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
“I’m comfortable running the biggest junior weekend rugby tournament in the world.”
The tournament won the best amateur sports event at the 2014 Middle East Sports Industry Awards and Sanders claims the essence of the tournament is about participation in a competitive environment.
He said: “We want as many teams to play and as many children to partake and to learn, to compete. Winning is important but it’s not the be all and end all.
“If they can learn team spirit and appreciation of rugby, including learning the game’s culture, like integrity, respect and discipline, they are great life skills they can take with them.”
Sanders is also proud the tournament has reached its 10th year.
“I’m absolutely delighted, it’s a very rewarding experience, I feel I’m giving something back to the community, but I have a great team behind me. They deserve all the praise,” he added.
One aspect Sanders said has greatly improved over the years has been girl’s rugby, with 28 girls’ teams competing this year. That was backed up by Richard Botting, a parent and former coach with Dubai Hurricanes.
Botting also helps coordinate the youth rugby league for girls in the UAE that was established last year.
Canes U18 girls are defending tournament champions and Botting said the tournament provides the girls with a platform to showcase their very real talents.
“They’re not here for earrings, they’re not princesses, they’re here to play rugby,” he said.
“Girls rugby in the UAE took a conscious decision to go contact several years ago and since then it’s been a magnet for numbers. The girls want to play that format.”
Abu Dhabi Quins would like to thank tournament sponsors Etihad, HSBC, National Ambulance, the Clubhouse and Prosperity for their support in continuing to host the club tournament.
Today the tournament reaches its conclusion, with the finals of the U14s, U15s and U16s all being decided at Zayed Sports City throughout the day.
