By Hishan Welmilla
Dubai to host a spectacular Dialog Asia Rugby Sevens Series the Regional Qualifiers for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022. The qualifying tournament scheduled to be played at Dubai Sports City on the 19th and 20th November 2021 will see a total of eight teams each in men’s and women’s categories.
The Chairman of Air Force Rugby Group Captain Subash Jayathilake has been appointed as the Manager of the Sri Lankan men’s rugby team which will take part in the vent. Group Captain Subash Jayathilake was a product of Thurstan College (1989-1991) and he represented his college and also a member of the Air Force rugby team since 1994.
He carries the credit of being one of the best rugby organizers as he was instrumental in organizing the Commanders Cup Rugby tournament and also a member of the steering committee of the recently concluded worrier Trophy.
Champions of the recently concluded West Asia Rugby 7s, hosts UAE have been drawn alongside seven-time Asia Rugby Seven Series winners Japan together with Sri Lanka and China in Pool B of the men’s qualifiers. Pool A boasts of Asian powerhouses South Korea, Hong Kong, Philippines and Malaysia.
In the women’s qualifiers, Pool A will comprise of Japan, Kazakhstan, Thailand and the Philippines while Pool B features China, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
Each team will play a total of three matches in the round-robin format before entering the knock-out stage. The top two finalists, both in the men’s and women’s draws, will qualify for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022.
The conference organized in the Dubai Sports City was graced by the presence of Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai, Khalid Al Awar, Director of Dubai Sports Council’s Sports Events Department; Trevor Gregory, Member of Asia Rugby Executive Committee, Mohamed Sultan Al Zaabi the Secretary-General of UAE Rugby Federation, Johny Stavrinou, CEO Asia Rugby and Apollo Perelini, UAE Rugby Performance Director.
Asanga Seneviratne Chairperson of Asia Rugby Competitions Committee was delighted to announce UAE and in particular, Dubai as the host city for the qualifiers as rugby makes its way to the city of Dubai after hosting two international tournaments in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in September and Doha, Qatar during the current month.
“The qualifier is played only once every four years. So, it’s a big event for us. The top eight Asian men’s and women’s teams will all be competing in Dubai Sports City to give us the top two finalists who will rub shoulders with the best in the world in Cape Town, South Africa next year at the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022. We have full faith in the city of Dubai to deliver another spectacular event.”
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