Renewed hope of completing the rugby league season in the UAE all but ended on Wednesday after two clubs withdrew from the competition.
After a difficult few weeks for the sport in the Emirates, which had seen head of the Rugby League Commission Sol Mokdad arrested and the final games of the season cancelled, it was announced earlier this week that the one outstanding fixture between Dubai Sharks and Xodus Wasps would go ahead on May 29.
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The Grand Final was then scheduled to take place a week later on June 5.
In what has been a bewildering few weeks, chaos reigned on Wednesday as Al Ain and Abu Dhabi players initially seemed convinced the season was all set to resume.
Quins player McMillan Chiwawa told Sport360: “Rugby league always helps me cope with the union season being over so I don’t miss the game too much, so with that being said I’m very happy to have a chance to play in the final I think the boys worked way too hard not to deserve a chance at a final.”
Amblers counterpart Kini Natuna added: “Great news to hear that both parties have agreed to the resumption of the league comp.”
However, Wasps later revealed that Sharks had cancelled their scheduled, outstanding league fixture due to Al Ain Amblers and Abu Dhabi Harlequins pulling out of the competition.
UAERF Board officially endorsed the formation of the #UAE_Rugby_League_Committee at its meeting #73 held today pic.twitter.com/ZeKTyc9XLh
— UAE Rugby Federation (@uaerugby) May 20, 2015
Wasps’ former Halifax Rugby League star Jaymes Chapman said the players had been informed via a group WhatsApp message that the game had been called off yet again.
“We were told Sharks were cancelling the game due to Harlequins withdrawing from the league,” said Chapman.
“Nothing is now going ahead with regards to the end of the season, it was a false dawn.”
It is understood that although the season had been given the go ahead to recommence, it needed the backing of all four teams, with Quins and Amblers thought to have reservations.
End of season tours organised since the season was originally cancelled and ratification from the General Authority of Youth and Sport Welfare (GAYSW) are also believed to be concerns.
Chapman added: “I don’t understand really, it’s a game of rugby. The UAE is a nation proud of its sports and we’re putting league on the map.
“It’s all politics. It’s baffling.”
The UAE Rugby Federation announced on Monday that official committees to represent and continue activities for the codes of league and touch in the UAE were well underway, and both committees were set to be formalised by the end of the week.
A meeting had been scheduled for Wednesday to formalise and endorse the separate committees of UAE Rugby League Committee and the UAE Touch Rugby Committee, and to endorse the UAERF Board member, Saoud Belshalat, as chairman of the newly established UAE Rugby League Committee.
Meanwhile, the UAE RF announced it had officially withdrawn its case against RLC head Mokdad on May 11.
The matter relating to Mokdad residing in the UAE illegally is a matter for UAE Immigration.
