Dubai: UAE rugby team manager Mohammad Shaker hailed experience over results after his side finished 12th in the 12-team Hong Kong Sevens — round one of the three-stage Asian Sevens Series — on Sunday.
The all-Emirati development squad lost their opening group games against Malaysia 40-0 and Japan 51-0, before a 29-0 defeat to Taipei in the bowl semi-final and a 40-5 loss to Kazakhstan in the 11th place play-off. Hareb Al Azri salvaged the UAE’s only try.
Shaker said despite four losses, the competition had been useful preparation for Olympic pre-qualifiers in the UAE from October 31 to November 1 and India from November 29 to 30.
“It was important for the boys to take part in this event to experience competitive rugby,” he said. “We are not happy with the results, but the boys still need more experience.
“We have a five-year plan and the average age of our players is 20 to 21-years-old after some changes. So, this is a learning curve for them. We are going in the right direction, and at this stage we aren’t just looking for results.
“This is good preparation and experience for the two 2016 Olympic Games pre-qualifying events, where we hope to get into the final 12 for Olympic qualification next year.”
Shaker added that the UAE wouldn’t now be competing at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, from September 30 to October 1, following a decision by the UAE Olympic Committee, meaning focus had now shifted entirely towards Olympic pre-qualification.
“The boys are a little sad that we are not going to Korea, but the UAE National Olympic Committee are only concerned with individual events and football,” he added.
The three stage Asian Sevens Series next moves onto Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from September 6 to 7, and Beijing, China from October 18 to 19.
