Dubai: He looks up to Wallabies' fly-half Quade Cooper for inspiration and you can understand why if you have seen him in action at the recently concluded Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby Sevens.
Having literally flown into the UAE's rugby history with the first two tries for the nation, Emad Reyal wants to follow in the Aussie star's footsteps because as he tells XPRESS, he wants to bring something new to the game. "I have tried to model myself like Cooper, fast, deft of feet and flamboyant," said the 20-year-old.
The signs were always there and his three tries in the Goa Sevens convinced coach Wayne Marsters to field the Sri Lankan scrum-half in the UAE side on the country's national day in their opening match against Samoa.
Asked about his celebration following the twin tries, Reyal said: "I was trying to make the words SL (Sri Lanka) with my fingers. I never expected to score a try so early on and it was an incredible feeling scoring the first ever try for the UAE at the Dubai Sevens on National Day.
"So what I did was very spontaneous."
Interestingly, Reyal had been gearing up to represent Sri Lanka, before his father moved back to Dubai. "I had to change my plans about representing my home country after we came here, but I am not complaining. I had given up the game for almost three years because of studies, but now that I have finished college, I can concentrate on my game again," he said.
Reyal, who works in the IT department of a firm in Dubai Airport Free Zone, revealed he hardly had time to savour the historic moment. "The games came thick and fast and right after the tournament, I joined work. Our clients are US-based and I have to be in office at 6am, so I haven't really had the time to sit back and savour that wonderful moment," he said.
Fans in the region will surely hope to see more of the diminutive Sri Lankan's spectacular tries and the Kandy-born player hopes to feature in the forthcoming Four Nations 15s event.
"I hope to be part of the UAE squad for a long time. Eventually I want to turn professional, but for now I will take it as it comes," he said.
