International Rugby Icons kick off their training programme at Rashid School for Boys
Marking the Ruby World Cup 2015, the British Embassy Dubai partnered with Hurricanes Rugby Club supporting an outreach programme in the UAE.
HMCG RWC 2015 Rashid School for boys
To mark the 2015 Ruby World Cup, which is currently being held in England, the British Embassy in Dubai have partnered with Hurricanes Rugby Club to support the latter’s schools outreach programme in the UAE. The programme seeks to capitalise on the interest in the Rugby World Cup to promote to a UAE audience the sport and its values.
One of the schools involved in the outreach is the Rashid School for Boys. The school was also involved in the last round of outreach, and the players showed huge potential, with prolific natural ability in the sport and a desire to play. The programme for 2015/16 was started on Sunday 11 October with a session which was led by Joe Roff, a former Australian Rugby Union international (86 caps). The session was attended by Her Majesty’s Consul General to Dubai and the Northern Emirates Paul Fox.
Ahead of the event, Robin Giles, Director of Rugby and Academy Manager for Dubai Hurricanes said:
It has quickly become evident that with the right support and coaching these players have benefitted a huge amount from the support given to them, enabling the players to receive good coaching and a positive introduction to the sport and the values inherent to rugby. These values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship differentiate the sport from many others and develop positive attributes that extend beyond the sports field and into everyday life. The coaches have focused on developing these values within each session and competition.
The Dubai Hurricanes Academy would like to thank its partners DHL, JW Marriott Marquis, Emirates and the British Embassy for helping us deliver this life changing programme and develop grass roots rugby in the UAE, affecting a long term change in the sport and beyond.
Her Majesty’s Consul General to Dubai and the Northern Emirates Paul Fox said:
It is inspiring to watch the players at Rashid School for Boys. They show exceptional passion and talent for the sport, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to offer our support to the excellent schools outreach programme being run by Hurricanes Rugby Club and its sponsors. The popularity of rugby in the UAE is going from strength to strength, and from watching the talent on show at Rashid School for Boys, it will not be long before the increasing popularity turns into world ranking points for the UAE national team.
Notes to editors
The 2015 Rugby World Cup, being hosted in England, runs between 18 September and 31 October. Teams from 20 countries are participating. 48 matches will be played at 13 venues in 12 cities across England and Wales. It is the 3rd largest sporting event in the world and will bring more than 400,000 overseas visitors to the UK.
Contact for this press release
Sam Kelly
Press and Public Affairs
Tel: +971 4 309 4444