A Saudi Select under-16 rugby league team will take on Lebanon in Beirut on Saturday in the Kingdom’s first ever match against an under-16 national side. The match will be played as a curtain-raiser before a senior international match between Lebanon and Italy.
The team, sponsored for the trip and the new “Camels” strip by Jeddah based company Luna, is made up from students from three international schools in Jeddah; the Jeddah Prep and Grammar and the British and American schools in Jeddah.
The team has been training for the event under former rugby league professional and teacher at the Jeddah Prep and Grammar School Chris Ratcliffe and David Martin.
Team captain and fly-half Ruan Knüpper, a very self-possessed 14-year-old South African, admitted that rugby was in his blood and that he relished the challenge of taking on the Lebanese.
“I am very proud to captain the team,” he said adding that although playing well above his age group he had no concerns with taking on as yet unseen opponents. “Our team plays well together and some of the lads have only short experience in the game and so the skills level varies a bit. But we have all worked hard for this opportunity and expect a tough game.”
Knüpper said that reputation had the Lebanese team as “big and grumpy”. “Size doesn’t matter to me — it’s what’s in your heart that matters,” he grinned.
Manuel Ocampo, the slight and wiry scrum-half agreed. An Argentinean, he was proud of his national team’s phenomenal progress from obscure rugby nation to international force capable of tackling the best based on their extreme agility and skills rather than weight. In September this year, Argentine was formally invited to make the southern hemisphere’s premier rugby challenge the Four Nations — joining Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the word’s toughest league.
An experienced rugby player in Argentine up to 14 years old he tried other sports then returned to rugby when he came to Saudi Arabia.
“I know I am in a sport that is hard to play and expect some hits, but we play with our hearts,” he said. “We hear that they have been waiting for us since last year, but we are happy to give them a hard time and we will for sure give our best.”
Lebanon does not have a dedicated under 16’s squad, their players will be from what centre Hassan Sharbatly, one of the Saudi players in the local team, diplomatically described as “an open age team.” However, Sharbatly, who smilingly admitted to taking up the sport two years ago because he liked the physical contact nature of the game, was determined to give a very forceful account of himself and his country. “You just have to get used to being knocked down getting back up and on with the game,” he said. “You want to play the game, then you have to get used to it. It’s a great experience and character builder. As more schools are taking up rugby, it also looks good on the application forms as well.”
Whatever happens in Beirut, the Camels will be certain to give a very positive account of themselves!
