Conquistadors to tour Madagascar and Seychelles for charitable cause

Matt Jones - Editor 09:56 04/05/2016
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  • Conquistadors team at Dubai Sevens with Mike Ballard (in wheelchair).

    The Air Seychelles Mike Ballard Foundation Conquistadors will be travelling to Madagascar and the Seychelles next month.

    They will deliver equipment such as wheelchairs to medical facilities on both east African islands, as well as put on rugby coaching clinics and supply boots, kit and equipment, donated from clubs around the Arabian Gulf, to junior teams and players in Madagascar. They will also donate rugby kit to the Seychelles Rugby Union.

    In addition, they will also play an exhibition match against the Madagascan national rugby team, known as the Makis, and set up links between clubs in the Gulf and the African nation.

    The team comprises of players from clubs around the UAE, including Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Saracens, Dubai Hurricanes, Exiles, Jebel Ali Dragons and also other Gulf teams from Bahrain, Doha and Muscat.

    Former Quin Mike Ballard was the inspiration for the team and indeed its pending goodwill mission. The American suffered a serious spinal injury when playing for Quins in 2014 and will act as the team’s manager on their tour.

    After returning home for treatment, Ballard recently returned to Abu Dhabi to live and work, taking up a place at his old school, the New England Centre for Children with Autism.

    “This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for everyone involved,” said Ballard of the mission.

    “It just goes to show what a wonderful rugby community there is in the Arabian Gulf – with all the members once again coming together for a good cause, with a bit of rugby thrown in as well.”

    The team is coached by former Doha captain, Winston Cowie, and UAE international Ed Lewsey, who is the director of rugby at the British School of Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.

    Cowie said: “We have chosen Madagascar because it is a country that is rugby mad, with the third highest number of registrations in Africa, and because the majority of rugby playing children (90 per cent) don’t have access to rugby uniforms and gear.

    “It is also a country where rugby is the national sport with over 48,000 keen participants.

    “We want to do our best to not only distribute jerseys and wheelchairs, hold rugby coaching clinics and play a rugby match, but more importantly, we want to establish meaningful relationships between clubs and schools in Madagascar and the Arabian Gulf region.”

    The mission is primarily sponsored by Air Seychelles, as well as Hill International Claims Group, McGettigans and Kukri.

    There is still time to contribute to the cause. The Conquistadors aim to gather at least one full set of second-hand junior rugby kit from rugby clubs and schools in the Arabian Gulf, including jerseys, shorts, socks, boots, and balls for between Under-8s and U-14s. They want to gather enough kit to gift two full sets (one U-8 and one U-14) to each rugby club and school they visit – with seven clubs and three schools currently in the programme.

    If you wish to donate a kit, email [email protected].

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