UAE Shaheen benefit from training session with Kyle Eastmond

Matt Jones - Editor 09:47 29/08/2015
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  • Major star: Eastmond.

    Considering an England international rugby star was in their ranks, there didn’t initially seem to be any hype. Then, during a water break, the UAE Shaheen players’ faces lit up as they trawled Google on their smart phones and realised the guy putting them through their paces was Kyle Eastmond.

    The 26-year-old centre, at Bath since 2011 following a four-year career in league with St Helens, dropped in on Shaheen training on Wednesday night at 7he Sevens along with former Bradford Bulls and London Broncos (then Harlequins) loose forward Michael Worrincy.

    Having just taken over as head coach of the all-Emirati Shaheen team, Apollo Perelini believes exposing local players who didn’t grow up with a strong rugby culture to such stars of the game will prove invaluable.

    St Helens icon: Perelini.

    “They were on Google on their phones during a water break and then realised who was at training, coming back onto the field with a totally different outlook and respect. Their faces lit up,” said Perelini.

    “The western world has grown up with rugby. These boys are just learning it and most of them didn’t grow up rugby fans. It allows the Emirati boys to see and understand the keys to the game, which is learning the skills first and foremost.”

    With his status as a legend of the game firmly cemented, Perelini is also promising more stars will come to the Emirates in the future too.

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    “The fastest way to learn about rugby is to watch rugby so their homework is to watch rugby on YouTube,” he said. “I can coach until the cows come home but it’s when they watch games and visualise what they need to do that it will click. Watching the Rugby World Cup will help massively.

    “Big names like Kyle coming in will also help their development and encourage their interest in it and hopefully, post-World Cup, I will have a lot more internationals able to drop in and do some coaching. I’ve already had contact with some who are keen.”

    When Perelini was contacted by the six-times capped Eastmond – a protégé of his at Saints having first coached him aged 14 – who wanted to meet up while on holiday, the Kiwi said he’d have to fit it in around Shaheen training. He didn’t expect him to actually get involved.

    “The boys had been keen to hang out but I said I had training so they opted to come along,” he said. “Kyle and Michael were showing them how it’s done. They got stuck in, helping with ball skills and even hitting tackle bags. They didn’t just stand around, so that was a nice touch.”

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