The Scotsman is currently in Uzbekistan with Apollo Perelini’s UAE squad as they prepare to face the hosts in Division II of the Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) on Wednesday.
Get through that and they will face the victor of the other semi-final, either Guam or Thailand, for a place in Division I in 2017.
Although his concentration is set firmly on that at the moment, Statham will also be jetting off again at the end of the month as he takes rugby and netball pupils at Jumeirah English Speaking School to China.
“I’ll travel with the UAE team and return on May 23,” said Stat-ham, who is head of physical education at JESS.
“I’ll be back on the plane on the 26th with the kids and a team of four other coaches.”
A total of 22 children will head with Statham and Co to Beijing, playing in an Under-11 internatio-nal rugby and netball tournament on May 27 and May 28.
Preparations for the Far East tour have been almost as grueling as Staham’s sessions with the UAE by the sound of things, with Statham and headteacher Asa Firth training the rugby team at 06:30 on Thursdays before school starts to help them prepare.
“It’s great for me to be able to help them, especially as I’ve travelled to China with UAE in September to play in a sevens tournament,” added Statham.
“The school has been really supportive of my training and commitments to the UAE.
“I hope I can pass on my experiences and that one of the children I coach will be able to follow in my footsteps one day.”
