The UAE's promise of being present at next year's Doha Asian Games lies heavily on a pool of talent being pruned in selective pockets of the Northern Emirates.

"We definitely have nearly 30 young UAE nationals who are training with us regularly," stated Jason Brown, the coach from Ras Al Khaimah Club.

"We do not have a proper turf ground, and we have to train on a sand pitch. But these lads are so enthusiastic about the game," he added.

Also pruning domestic talent is the Fujairah Rugby Club coached by Paul Algate. "We feel the need to see these youngsters developing and going up in the standard of their game," Algate stated.

With such abundant talent at their disposal, the Northern Emirates clubs have decided to join with Sharjah Wanderers Sports Club in an attempt to take the game to a higher level.

The Lanka Lions and the Safa Park Warriors have also thrown in their lot with the Wanderers, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah in this formation of a new union.

"This is not only about taking rugby to the next level, but it is also about promoting our cause to get the Government involved in our goals," stated Darryl Weir from the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union (AGRFU).

"These clubs existed by themselves and never came up with any noteworthy results in the past. However, collectively they can be a great force," Weir stated.

The five operating members of the new Northern Emirates Rugby union have already put forth a tentative plan to boost the game at all levels.

"Travelling to other places and playing regularly will be among the two most prominent benefits for these youngsters," Brown observed.

Though the boys have the talent and the itch for the sport, they enthusiasm has been substantially doused due to a lack of match practice.

"We have already been working on getting sponsors to transport these boys and have regular games and even training sessions all over the UAE," Brown added.

"The five clubs coming together is like a blessing in disguise for the cause of the sport here," the Ras Al Khaimah official noted.

The Safaa Park Warriors have a strong junior base, and they are meant to add the expatriate angle at the junior level to the five-team union.

"Most of our players are under-19 and that would mean that this new union would look up to us for the youth," stated Samir Murad of the Warriors.

Boasting of the second oldest rugby football union in the world back home, the Lanka Lions will complete the fusion with their experience. "The Lanka Lions have been regular players at the Dubai Sevens since 1990. And we have been able to compete on par with any of the teams in the region," opined Vasanth Perera from the Lanka Lions.

Thrilled with such an initiative, Weir complimented: "This is a tremendous step forward for the clubs and the game itself. I can predict that this union will be a force to reckon with."

Weir was also quick to assure the five clubs of the AGRFU support. "We are here to support such initiatives in the best way we can," he said.

"Some people might say that it is too late in the season to have something like this. But for the sake of the sport, it is never late. These boys are going to be very competitive. They've set themselves a five-year time frame. I hope the fruits can come sooner," he hoped.