Dubai Hurricanes captain Perry is currently training with the national team hoping to earn selection to Apollo Perelini’s squad for next month’s Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) Division II campaign.
Perelini has been putting around 35 players through their paces at The Sevens and Jebel Ali Centre of Excellence over the last two weeks but will cull the group to a 25-man touring squad sometime this week.
The domestic season might have just ended, but Perry insists every player is pushing themselves to be involved in the ARC campaign.
“There’s no sense in us winding down. Boys have really got a crack at international rugby, probably the only crack for a lot of us, and at the end of the day it’s another six weeks’ hard graft with a good award at the end of it,” said the 27-year-old lock.
“Certainly nobody’s taking their foot off the gas. If anything, boys are pressing down harder. It’s another six weeks, it’s like a mini season, it’s exciting, and hopefully there’s an end product.”
Perry arrived in the UAE from Morecambe in May 2012 and just missed out on UAE selection for their trip to Malaysia 12 months ago. There, the UAE narrowly missed out on promotion back to Asia Rugby’s second tier.
They beat Thailand and Chinese Taipei but lost 20-19 to the hosts.
That provided a boost to rugby in the country and, having spoken to players involved who talked in glowing terms of their experiences, Perry is determined to be a part of it.
“I missed out last year, but I spoke to the boys who went and they said it was really good,” said Perry.
“It was a good crack but also there was some good rugby and they got a lot from it. My target was always to get to the end of this season then have a go at it but there’s a lot of competition.
“Nothing’s a given. Three or four players are probably certain of their place but all the rest is up in the air and that’s good in terms of competition. We’re all in the same position.
“If you get selected, the aim is to go there and win both games.”
Now eligible for the UAE after passing the three-year residency rule, Perry is determined to make the squad, especially after a disappointing club season with Canes.
“It’s been a difficult year with Canes, a lot of ups and downs, but now it’s different. You go from playing with your mates to boys you don’t know, lads you play against, it’s brilliant,” added Perry.
