The UAE will be in a position to host an IRB-sanctioned Test match earliest by 2018, according to the general secretary of the UAE Rugby Federation (UAE RF).
Speaking at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UAE RF and Bernard Laporte, President, Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR), Qais Al Dhalai said: “A proper Test match between France and another big team like New Zealand or Australia is a big possibility in 2018 or perhaps in 2019. Of course, the UAE hosts the very popular Dubai Rugby 7s each year, but we have never hosted a proper Test match. This would be indeed be a major sporting event as it would the first time in the UAE history or any other country in this region to host a rugby Test match.”
Al Dhalai further said that Saturday’s MoU with the FFR had opened up huge possibilities for the growth of rugby in the UAE and surrounding region. “We wanted to first put the MoU in place, and now that it is done, we will start communicating with the other rugby unions to see how we can make hosting of a proper Test match a reality. The MoU is a significant step and now we will slowly start looking at the other factors such as venue, etc,” he added.
Since taking over the UAE RU in 2009, the pool of UAE athletes playing rugby has swollen from a mere 50 to an astonishing 4,000 Emiratis. “November would be a good time to host an event in the UAE, and it is also a good time for the French rugby team as they would have an open window,” Al Dhalai said.
