Al Ain Amblers Youth Rugby Tournament 2009-10

Al Ain Amblers Rugby Club hosted it 7’s Youth Tournament in Al Ain this weekend at the club grounds situated in the Palm Sports Resort Al Ain. The Al Ain Rugby Club comes under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Finance Department and Chairman of the Palm Sports Resort, which is managed by H.E. Mohammed Rashid Al Nasseri. This marvelous facility has been provided for us as part of Sheikh Mohammed’s vision of sport for all in Al Ain.

Sixty seven teams from around the UAE, and Qatar played in the two day tournament, with over 700 boy and girl players aged between 6 and 18 years. A total of 200 games of rugby were hard fought and the team spirit and dedication of the players, coaches, and parents was evident.

Teams included Clubs and Schools from the UAE: Al Ain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, as well as teams from Doha Rugby Club who erected tents and camped pitch side overnight! Popcorn, candyfloss and the Al Ain Amblers Bouncy Castle kept the smaller players and spectators amused while the real entertainment took place on the five immaculate grass pitches.

U17 Girls:

• Cup Final: Sharjah 1^st team beat The English College 2-1

• Al Ain Girls won the Plate final

• Joanny of Sharjah was voted Player of the Tournament.

U18 Boys:

• Cup Final: Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1^st team beat Dubai Exiles 1^st team 45 – 0

• The British School of Al Khubairata won the Plate final

• Stephen Venter of Dubai Exiles was voted Player of the U18 Tournament.

U16 Boys:

• Cup Final: Dubai Exiles 3^rd team beat Dubai Exiles 1^st team 19-7

• The British School of Al Khubairata won the Plate Final and Al Ain Amblers won the Bowl Final.

• Adam Al Samare of Dubai Exiles was voted Player of the U16 Tournament.

U14 Boys:

• Cup Final: Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1^st team beat Dubai Hurricanes 3^rd team 38-12

• Al Ain Amblers won the Plate Final

• Beniot Moriou of Abu Dhabi Harlequins was voted Player of the U14 Tournament.

U12 Tournament:

• Cup Final: Dubai Exiles 1^st team beat Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1^st team 28-0

• Dubai Exiles 3^rd team won the Plate Final

• Molly Maddocks of Abu Dhabi Harlequins was voted Player of the U12 Tournament.

U10 Tournament:

• Cup Final: Dubai Exiles 1^st team beat Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1^st team 6-0

• Dubai Hurricanes 1^st team won the Plate Final

• Alex Moss of the Dubai Hurricanes was voted Player of the U10 Tournament.

U8 Tournament:

• Cup Final: Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1^st team beat Doha 5-2

• Dubai Exiles 2^nd team won the Plate Final

• Zach Yousef of Sharjah Wanderers was voted Player of the U8 Tournament.

In the fourth year of its existence, Doha Rugby Club won the Al Ain – Doha Annual Challenge Trophy 3-1.  Al Ain got off to a strong start defeating Doha in the U18 competition. However, the visitors responded well on Saturday and claimed victories in the U8, 10 and 12 competitions.

The Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union, AGRFU, hosted an U16 and U18 elite academy training session on the Friday evening, which was well attended, and enjoyed by all.

The Al Ain Amblers Chairman and organizers of the tournament were enormously impressed by the way in which the players and team officials conducted themselves both on and off the field, making the two day event a pleasure to host, and take part in.

Al Ain will be hosting the Al Ain Amblers Adult 7’s and 10’s Tournament on the 20^th of November, as a regional build up to the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby 7’s a fortnight later.

Text and images courtesy: Al Ain Amblers RFC