The UAE rugby community was out in force on Monday as HSBC were announced as the principal sponsor of the UAE Rugby Player Pathway Programme, which seeks to trigger interest in the game from Emirati school children.
A smattering of UAE Shaheen players were joined by members of the senior team, who begin their Asian Five Nations campaign this Friday against Hong Kong, as well as UAE rugby coach Duncan Hall and CEO Ian Bremner.
The partnership is the latest addition to the bank’s Middle East Youth, Education and Community rugby programme which also includes sponsorship of the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens and four junior rugby festivals which together form the HSBC Youth Rugby Series.
Speaking to Sport360°, Bremner outlined the growing popularity of the game in schools around the Emirates. “We work within five schools in Dubai, and we’ve just appointed a development officer to work in Abu Dhabi, and one in Al Ain,” he said.
“Our experiences in Dubai are very, very encouraging. School principles have welcomed the opportunity for another sport, perhaps a robust sport, they’ve welcomed that to the extent that they’ve moved timetables around; we teach all of our rugby within curriculum time, and they’ve been willing to put two classes in the same spot, so our development officer going in there maximises his time.”
Mohammed Falaknaz, Chairman UAE Rugby Association, echoed Bremner’s thoughts, and feels the new partnership can only have a positive effect on young players up and down the country. “It is important for us, as rugby’s governing body, to continue to demonstrate to our UAE Sports Authorities, IRB, sponsors and other stakeholders that we are serious in our intent to grow the game and manage the sport in a professional manner.
“UAE Rugby has already shown commitment to this through the formation of the UAE Shaheen Sevens squad who will play Afghanistan later this week. We are very excited that younger Emirati players involved in the Pathway Programme have such role models they can look up to.”
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