Bruised but unbowed, the pair acquitted themselves very ably despite the difference in fitness levels due to the quality of training schemes in Saudi and the UK.
Sixteen-year-olds Rakan Saad Al-Mokhtar and Farid Abdulwahab are both part of the Saudi team that has lifted the under-16 Middle East Championship title for the last two years. They were invited by Warrington scouts to participate after demonstrating exceptional ability at the game during the championships in March in Lebanon.
They joined the club for a week’s development with the youth performance department.
“I have learned a lot of new skills that I will be able to take back to Saudi and pass onto my team,” said Al-Mokhtar, adding these included new passing skills and plays as well as ideas to share with his team to become better. “I will also take away some coaching skills, as I am the coach for the under 12s and I now have better ideas on how to do this. This experience will stick with me forever.”
He said that there were key differences between the coaching here in England and back home. “The difference here is the way the team trains together. In Saudi we don’t have a gym that we can all use together. Also the level of dedication each player has to the sport and the care that each player gets from all the coaches.
“The sport is still new in the country but it’s growing every day as more and more schools and countries in the Middle East are starting to play rugby league. Maybe someday my team will make it to England to play against Warrington and other teams.”
Remond Safi, MENA regional director for the Rugby League European Federation, and David Kinkead, the boys’ coach in Jeddah, also paid a visit to see how they were settling in and to observe Warrington’s practices.
“I first got interested in the sport when my rugby coach David Kinkead came to our school and started teaching us how to play,” said Abdulwahab. “That was over four years ago now.”
He feels he’s learned a lot from this experience. “Over the past few days I’ve learnt new skills in rugby and how to lift weights properly with good techniques to prevent injuries. When we return home I’ll teach the others the skills that I’ve learnt during my stay and explain how much tougher rugby is over here. I’ve noticed that in training a lot more skill and fitness work is required.”
“Farid and Rakan have been a credit to themselves and their families throughout the week. They have been very positive and proactive in developing themselves and also in helping the community department on an away day to Barrow Island,” said Director of Youth Development John Bastian.
He concluded that the visit had been very successful for both rugby league and Warrington Wolves. “As a result we will continue to help promote and develop relationships and the sport in the Middle East in the future.”
The week included a tour of both The Halliwell Jones Stadium and University of Chester Warrington training campus along with numerous skills and conditioning sessions, community coaching visits and academy training sessions.
A source close to the club said that the Rugby League European Federation is extremely interested in setting up a Saudi Rugby League Federation and feel that Al-Mokhtar and his family may be the right people to spearhead this. The main mission is to get the sport recognized in the country at the highest government level, especially considering the great work that has already been done in schools.
