No UAE Premiership or West Asia Cup final – Roelof Kotze

Matt Jones - Editor 10:37 29/08/2015
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  • No room for finals: Roelof Kotze.

    The UAE’s progress as a Test nation has been cited as a reason why there will be no UAE Premiership or West Asia Cup final this season.

    The showpiece events in UAE and Gulf rugby have traditionally been decided by the top two sides meeting in a final. Organisers, however, have announced that both competitions will be decided by the best team.

    “There were not enough weekeneds available for two finals,” UAE performance manager Roelof Kotze said on Wednesday. 

    “Also we don’t know when the Test season is going to be. We can’t go too long in the club season and then not be ready for the Test games.

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    "We don’t want to take a step back in the Asian Rugby Championship series.”

    Meanwhile, Jebel Ali Dragons have become the first club in the UAE to aquire a trade licence, something every team competing in either the Premiership, UAE

    Conference or newly-formed third tier competition the Community Shield will need to have in place before the 2015-16 campaign kicks off.

    “Before the start of the season, every club particiapting in a sanctioned league must have it,” said UAE Rugby Federation administrative manager Gabby Couzens.

    “Everyone’s there to help each other. The process will be a lot easier now one club has completed it.”

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