Dubai: Former New Zealand flanker Josh Kronfeld launched the DHL Dubai Hurricanes Rugby Academy at the Sevens Stadium on Friday.
The academy for players, aged nine to 18 years, looks to develop skills through expert coaching and even offers scholarships to Emiratis.
Kronfeld, 43, who represented the All Blacks at both the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cups, said such initiatives were vital to rugby’s growth.
“What the Hurricanes are doing here is fantastic and this is what we need in all budding rugby countries,” he said. “We want to see rugby continue to be competitive, the last thing you want to see is one or two teams dominate, so we need to share the love in these younger rugby countries.
“In the last few years we’ve seen Romania, Kenya and Namibia become competitive. Sevens is a great starting point but that will lead into 15s and we’ll eventually see more teams vying for a World Cup.
“The UAE might not be going to a World Cup anytime soon, but if these guys get the right schooling there’s a chance for them to go further.”
Sessions will be held every Friday morning for development and elite players, while the elites will additionally train every Wednesday. Classes are open to players from all clubs at a cost of Dh900 a year for development players and Dh2,000 for elites.
In an attempt to attract more nationals to the sport, the UAE Rugby Federation (UAERF) recently introduced subsidies for senior Emirati players, offering to pay 80 per cent of a local player’s club membership if the club agreed to pay the other 20 per cent.
The scheme was rejected by clubs on grounds of equality and sustainability, but club chairman Simon Lewis believes scholarships for Emiratis at academy level will hook players and keep them coming back as full-paying seniors, while giving them the skills they need to improve the national team.
For more information on the Dubai Hurricanes Academy visit www.dubaihurricanes.com, email info@dubaihurricanes.com or call 00971 (0)50-794-0823.
