More than 80 students from Rashid School for Boys were this week put through their paces by 2003 rugby World Cup winner and HSBC ambassador, Will Greenwood ahead of the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens.
The England rugby legend was joined by stars from the UAE national team to give the youngsters a lesson they’ll never forget in the form of an interactive coaching session followed by an inspirational Q&A with Greenwood.
The session focused not just on the skills required of a great rugby player, but also the core values of courage, integrity and teamwork.
“I had such a fantastic time today with the boys at Rashid School and it was refreshing to witness the tremendous level of passion and enjoyment these kids have. Most of what we did today is getting the children to work together as a team and learning the basics of the sport. The beauty about rugby is it continuously reinforces values like teamwork, trust and discipline especially in children at this age which is phenomenal,” said Greenwood.
He went on to add: “Rugby is just infectious and seeing those kids on the pitch today just tell me that they are absolutely loving the sport and I am glad to have been a part of this session.”
Asked for his impressions, he said: "Many of them have played basketball or handball. They understand a ball in a hand and then it's very simple rules you have to just pass the ball backward in rugby. In basketball and handball it can go in every direction. Once they understand the basics, they love it. There is a little bit more physical contact in rugby and boys gave big smile when they came to smash each other," he said.
Rashid School for Boys is one of 25 UAE schools involved in the HSBC backed UAE Player Pathway Programme — launched in 2011 to promote and encourage rugby among Emirati schools and communities. The programme has great success and today sees over 1,000 Emirati boys playing regular and competitive level rugby.
Hamid Al Naja, 9, one of the kids who took part in the training session said: "I play rugby because it's fun and good exercise. I want to continue to play. I'm fast and can score easily. What I learnt today was to pass closer."
Dean Winders, Head of Primary Physical Education at Rashid School for Boys, said: “We are delighted to have a legend like Will Greenwood take tomorrow’s generation of rugby players through an unforgettable coaching session where he shared his knowledge of the game with our enthusiastic students who were looking forward to his arrival.
"Since joining the UAE Player Pathway Programme we have seen a surge in the number of students interested in taking up the sport for the first time. We currently have many children playing rugby on a regular basis and we are expecting a lot more to join in this season thanks to the UAE Rugby Federation and HSBC.”
HSBC is a long-standing supporter of rugby around the world, and in the Middle East the bank is helping to grow the game through a comprehensive year-round programme of rugby partnerships at all levels. HSBC supports the sport from the grassroots all the way through to acting as main sponsor and official bank of the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens.
The inclusion of rugby sevens as an Olympic sport at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro has generated significant new interest in the sport around the world. HSBC’s support for rugby spans four continents and includes sponsorship of the HSBC Sevens World Series and co-title sponsor of the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. HSBC is also a sponsor of four youth rugby festivals across the Middle East which together form the HSBC Youth Rugby Series.
"Sevens is now in the Olympics and there is HSBC Sevens World Series. There are nine event and over half a million people will go to watch in the stadiums around the world. It is a rapidly growing sport
and it's great to work with a sponsor that views it not just as the weekend but everything around," said Greenwood.
Asked how UAE could make progress starting from scratch as it were, he said: "Start slowly. You have to have coaching sessions, go to schools, have camps, allow people to see it on television with Sevens. It's a case of we beating the drum and keep beating the drum. Rugby is a magnificent sport. I was very lucky to play at school level with my best friends all the way through to England and winning the World Cup."
The gangly Greenwood said there are places on the rugby field for every one.
"In rugby, you can be any shape any size and we will welcome you and find a place for you. That's why rugby is such a good sport. In other sports if you dont fit a certain size you are not in the team," he said.
UAERF's Ben van Rooyen was pleased with the emergence of UAE stars form the HSBC Player Pathway Programme.
"My aim was by April under 19 PPP players would take on the national side and give them a good run. But I think if we do it today, we can beat the national side," he said.
He explained the reasons why they were fast-tracking talented teenagers to the national team.
"The problem is football might poach them. Better to take the ones who want to play and not play other sports or would consider leaving handball and play rugby. So I believe catch them young is nice but it would not produce guaranteed results because everybody is after the same kids. We have to realistic because UAE population is small," he said.
On the Emirates Nationals Schools being held for the first time, van Rooyen said: "This is a bonus. This is the biggest thing that could have happened. We know these boys who will play now will keep playing once they played at Sevens."
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England rugby legend Greenwood impressed with enthusiasm of UAE youngsters
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