A pioneering touch rugby tournament that Shane Thornton started four years ago has since led to the establishment of a full-blown rugby club.
– Doha veteran Liam Frost hangs up his boots after decorated career
– #Quiz360: WIN a group paintball session at Zayed Sports City
– AD Sarries show their bottle to upset Doha and clinch first silverware
The New Zealander has created enough of a buzz from the 12-week long rugby competition, which has been played on Sundays four times a year for the last four years, to now set up a new tournament to be played on Tuesday evenings.
The Heartbeat Sports Touch competition starts tonight (Tuesday) and will be played at Nord Anglia International School, Dubai. As with the Sunday format, the new Tuesday event will run for the next 12 weeks, with men’s, women’s and mixed teams all competing for glory.
Both tournaments have been created by the man behind the Heartbeat Sports Tigers, who competed for the first time this season in the Sport360° UAE Conference after entering their first Dubai Sevens in 2013.
“In New Zealand, touch competitions are extremely popular and I have always been involved with touch,” said Thornton. “Many of my friends in Dubai love to play touch so a few years back I thought why not start a touch competition and it has been a success ever since. The number of people playing touch now is fantastic.”
Due to the popularity of the quarterly-run Sunday tournaments, Thornton realised there was scope to grow the game of touch in the UAE.
He added: “We have been running touch for the last four years, holding four tournaments a year. We always have a minimum of 12 teams with a social and competitive grade. It is mixed touch and six-a-side.
“The competitions are still extremely successful which is great because it is awesome seeing as many people as possible love the game. We just want it to continue to be popular so the competitions can run throughout the year.
“We are starting a Tuesday night competition which will also be for 12 weeks, and it is full field touch and you can enter either men’s, mixed or ladies’ teams. We would like a few more teams for Tuesday night because playing full field is a really good workout and fun.”
Although the Tuesday tournaments start tonight, there is still time for teams to sign up for the rest of the programme over the next three months. Thornton says there are plenty of reasons for getting involved with touch, as well as prizes and rewards for signing up.
“Lots of people love rugby and playing in these touch tournaments is, first and foremost, about the social enjoyment,” said Thornton.
“It’s inclusive, so men, women and youths can play, and it’s great for teamwork, fitness and ball skills. We offer very generous prizes for winners of each grade (Barasti vouchers) and also winners and runners-up medals.”
If you have a team that plays on Sundays and Tuesdays, you will also get a Dh1,000 discount on fees.
“I created Heartbeat Sports to offer sports to youth and adults,” added the Kiwi. “It started with touch, youth athletics and holiday camps. One of my main passions is rugby therefore I decided to start a club called Tigers.
“The colours red and white represent my New Zealand home club where I played for 15 years. We now have a successful club where kids and adults come to train and play because they love the game.”
What: Heartbeat Sports Touch competition
Where: Nord Anglia International School, Dubai
When: Starts Tuesday, March 24, from 19:00-21:30
Teams: Men’s, women’s and mixed Cost: Dh3,600 per team (Dh1,000 discount for teams that play Sundays and Tuesdays)
Contact: Shane Thornton on 055 665 7332 or email [email protected]
