DUBAI: The presence of Saudi rugby players at the Dubai Rugby 7s this year’s has never been greater.
At least two teams — Jeddah and Riyadh — will be competing in the fiercely contested inter-club events and each will be fielding teams with a significant proportion of Saudi nationals as key players.
At least 25 percent of the travelling team is Saudi, a similar proportion British and the balance a mix of rugby playing nations including one Swedish ex-international.
David Kinkade, committee member of the Jeddah Rugby Club (JRFC) feels that the presence of so many Saudi players in the teams to be greatly encouraging. “We have one player who was a stalwart of the Saudi Scorpions — Mohammed Asiri — who made such an impact two years ago,” said Kincade.
Several others either worked with club members or heard about the game and turned up at the club to see what it involved, stayed and turned into very handy players he added.
“We have a former Saudi Olympic sprint trialist Fawas Al Faghi playing with us,” said Kincade. “He scares me; he is blisteringly quick!” Al Faghi is one to watch in the Jeddah team’s challenge during Sevens week. In his debut tournament in Riyadh recently he scored seven tries.
Rivals Riyadh, said Kincade, have a majority of Saudi players in their team. Such is the interest in rugby developing that the minister of sport has officially recognized the two clubs and is keen that they develop.
“However, we cannot put together a Saudi national team until rugby is taught in Saudi schools,” said Kincade, “and we have put in motion schemes that have already produced referees and coaches. It’s coming!”
Celebrating their 30th year of existence, the JRFC will be playing in a new strip this year. One joining member of the club Prince Faisal bin Sultan al Saud has sponsored new kit for the team and has become an enthusiastic player-member of the club.
“He saw rugby being played while in the New Zealand and the South Seas and was very much attracted to the game,” said Kincade. “On his return he contacted the club and since then has proved to be a useful prop-forward.”
Kincade opined that Prince Faisal was proof positive that to play social rugby, it was not at all necessary to have played the game since a child.
“We focus very much on a running game in seven-a-side and once a week we have an open session where anyone can turn up, play the touch — no physical contact — game and enjoy the exercise and companionship.”
Although drawn against their major rival Riyadh in the first rounds of the competition, Kincade was optimistic about JRFC’s chances.
“They beat us in the Riyadh tournament, but under the very special pressures of the Dubai 7s anything can happen on the day,” he said. “I’m confident we’re good enough to come away with the Shield or Bowl trophies.”
