UAE schoolchildren show they have the touch for rugby

Matt Jones - Editor 09:21 14/12/2015
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  • Touch League: Talent on show.

    The surging popularity of junior touch football was in evidence this week after a record number of teams and players took part in the finals for the Abu Dhabi Primary School Touch League.

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    With support this season from Al Ghazal Golf Club and Al Yasmina School, the league has nearly doubled in size from 2014 and now runs for 10 weeks culminating in a finals series which this year was played at Cranleigh on Saadiyat.

    More than 200 touch enthusiasts took part in the Under-9 and Under-11 finals competition. Yasmina (U9A), British International School Abu Dhabi (U- 9B), Yasmina (U11A) and Yasmina (U11B) were the respective League winners while Brighton (U9A), British International School Abu Dhabi (U9B), Cranleigh (U11A) and the British School Al Khubairait (U11B) won the Cup competitions.

    John Larkins, of organisers Middle East Touch, said: “This year’s league surpassed all of our expectations. The support received from Al Ghazal Golf club to provide facilities for the bulk of the season are the main reason the competition has been able to grow.

    “They’re truly helping to support the development of touch football in Abu Dhabi, and I can’t thank them enough. I would also like to thank the organising partners Al Yasmina School for their support and guidance, and all of the sponsors for making this year’s primary league so successful.”

    Primary school competitions fall under Federation of International Touch rules for the first time in term two in Dubai and secondary school leagues for boys and girls in Abu Dhabi and Dubai next month.

    For more information about schools touch football in the UAE, including opportunities for sponsorship in the upcoming Abu Dhabi, Dubai and UAE National Touch Championships, contact [email protected] or [email protected].

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