Dubai: Since Rugby Sevens’ inclusion in the Olympics, emphasis has shifted towards local players, with only those with passports allowed to represent their countries.

The largely expatriate region-wide Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union (AGRFU) was disbanded in 2011, making way for separate national unions — recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) — such as the UAE Rugby Federation (UAE RF), which is more tailored towards Emirati integration and eligible for development funding.

What’s followed is an inevitable drop in quality and results due to the relative lack of experience and the reduced size of player pool.

But in an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Qais Al Dhalai, the UAE RF secretary-general, insists this is a short-term lapse, the positives of which will become apparent in time.

Meanwhile, the UAE have finished 12th out of 12 in the past two rounds of the three-stage Asian Sevens Series, which concludes in Beijing, in October 18-19. They have also been dropped from the delegation attending the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, from September 19 to October 4. Following are the excerpts of an exclusive chat with Gulf News:

GULF NEWS: Are you happy with the improvements shown by the UAE between the Hong Kong and the Malaysia Sevens? The team conceded a total 160 points and scored five in Hong Kong but conceded 135 and scored 21 in Kuala Lumpur.

QAIS AL DHALAI: Yes, there’s a little improvement in the scorelines from the last leg. This is what the performance manager is looking for, step-by-step improvement. We are not looking for results yet, we are looking to build a strong team for the future. Any sensible person will know that the transition from a complete expatriate squad to a complete Emirati team takes years to be fruitful.

How difficult was it to be left out of the UAE National Olympic Committee’s (NOC) delegation for the Asian Games?

Every national body dreams of Olympic or Asian Games inclusion and all the signals implied that we would be included. When it came to our attention that we wouldn’t be included, it affected our players mentally and physically. But we have to respect the NOC’s decision. It’s easier to obtain medals in individual sport than it is in team games.

How have priorities shifted after hearing you won’t be going to Incheon?

Our objective now is to be one of the top 12 Asian teams competing in next year’s [Asian zone] Olympic qualifiers. It is not a priority to get to the Olympics as there is only one slot from that 12 entering the final, and the three runners-up enter a cross-confederation play-off, but we want to be in the mix. Pre-qualifying for developing Asian nations starts in Al Ain on October 31 to November 1, which serves as a seeding tournament for the decider in Chennai, India, early next year. As a team we are only two-years-old, so to be among the best 12 sides in Asia would be a big milestone for us.

You’re trying to introduce subsidies to encourage more Emirati players into domestic rugby. You’ve proposed the UAE RF pay 80 per cent of an Emirati’s membership fee and clubs pay the other 20 per cent. Are the clubs keen?

You can’t tell an Emirati player that he has to pay-to-play, this will never happen. Some of the clubs have rejected the 80-20 plan citing financial issues. We have to respect their decision and move forward. But when a club like the Arabian Knights — who have only been running six years – agree, and other teams — who have been around much longer — don’t, then something’s wrong. Rugby has been predominantly played by expatriates here for almost 40 years, but that can’t last forever, you have to integrate Emiratis, otherwise there will be a gap in competitiveness internationally.

What are you doing to spread the game among Emirati youth at grassroots level?

We were recently ranked fifth in Asia for development after getting 2,419 Emirati boys and 1,584 Emirati girls into the game. We are continuing to spread the sport through more and more Emirati schools and institutions. We have three development officers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain at the moment but we will soon have a fourth, for the northern emirates. We have also hired female development officers to work with the girls. I want 5000 mass participation by the end of 2016. That is my main objective. Now we have over 3000 and have two more years to achieve 5000, Emirati integration is vital and we need to work now.

You’ve also announced plans to bid for the 2018 Rugby Sevens World Cup, are you confident?

We are up against 13 big rugby nations, we are not so confident, but we have expressed our plans, so let’s see. We will do our best to be a success. We’ve expressed interest and the deadline to apply is December 5. We believe we have a strong bid. One of our advantages is that we have a strong spectator base here thanks to the success of the annual Dubai leg of the IRB Sevens World Series. Attendances at the last Sevens’ World Cup in Moscow, Russia, weren’t so good, so we hope our crowd potential will help us win.