United Arab Emirates national rugby union team
| Union | United Arab Emirates Rugby Federation |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Jacques Benade |
| Captain | Matthew Mills |
| Home stadium | 7he Sevens |
| World Rugby ranking | |
| Current | 43 (as of 30 June 2025) |
| Highest | 43 (2025) |
| Lowest | 97 (2013) |
| First international | |
| Sri Lanka 13–13 (23 April 2011) | |
| Biggest win | |
| Pakistan 0–05 (4 July 2023) | |
| Biggest defeat | |
| 0–111 Japan (13 May 2011) | |
| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 0 |
| Website | uaerugby.ae |
The United Arab Emirates national rugby union team represents the United Arab Emirates in rugby union and is governed by the United Arab Emirates Rugby Federation.[1] They were once part of the Arabian Gulf team which consisted of players from the Gulf Cooperation Countries on the Arabian Peninsula, but the team disbanded in 2010 following a reorganization of rugby in the region by the International Rugby Board (now World Rugby).
The United Arab Emirates Rugby Federation became the first union formed following the disbantion of the Arabian Gulf team, and in 2011, they were granted membership into the Asian Rugby Football Union (now Asia Rugby) and, following a successful bid, were granted full membership in World Rugby in November 2012.[2][3]
History
Early Roots
Long term historical background shows that rugby’s beginnings in the middle east, on the desert sand pitches for which it is famed, stretch as far back to the mid 1900s, when the British military personnel played against expatriate employees of the Kuwait Oil Company.[4] Most informal matches were played on makeshift pitches—often on sand or grassless fields.
In 1974, expatriate representatives from the rugby clubs in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, joined together to form a union called the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union (AGRFU), which started to grow the game in the region.[5] It's primary focus was to build an infrastructure and develop the game across the region, developing players, coaches and officials.
It was during this period the now famous Dubai Sevens was founded and became the nations flagship rugby event.[6]
2010–2018: Building UAE Rugby
By 2010, the AGRFU was dissolved, allowing the individual countries to take full control of their rugby development to allow for focused growth of the game in each country.
Founded in 2010, the then UAE Rugby Association, was responsible for developing and growing the game in the United Arab Emirates and was awarded full membership status of the Asian Rugby Football Union in June 2011. By October 2012, the local government of youth and sorts upgraded the organisation to the UAE Rugby Federation after it showed its commitment in developing and growing the game in the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE's first test match was on 23 April 2011 against Sri Lanka as part of the 2011 Asian Five Nations, which ended in a 13–all draw.[7] A week later, the UAE earned their first win, defeating Kazakhstan 24–10 in Abu Dhabi.[8]
After a competitive inaugural appearance in the Asian Five Nations competition, the UAE were included in the inaugural World Rugby Cup of Nations competition, where they joined other developing rugby nations Brazil, Hong Kong and Kenya in a round-robin tournament held in Dubai.[9]
By November 2012, the UAE Rugby Federation was awarded full membership status by World Rugby, the highest recognition that a Union could be awarded, which allowed the side to be part of the 2015 Rugby World Cup Asia qualification process which commenced in April 2013.[10] In their first attempt of World Cup qualification, the UAE were eliminated in their first round, losing all their matches during the 2013 Asian Five Nations to see them also relegated from the top flight Asian competition for 2014.
By 2015, the UAE has slipped into the second division of Asian Rugby (in effect the third tier in Asia), where they remained for two seasons.[11] But despite being promoted back to Division 1 for 2017,[12] they were later relegated back to Division 2 for 2018, and thus ending their chances of qualification for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
2018–onwards: Growth of Asian rugby
The side failed to compete in 2018, and returned back to competitive rugby ahead of the 2019 season, where they won the second division and was promoted for 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAE didn't play a game until 2023, where they then defeated Pakistan 188–3 on aggregate to return to the top flight championship for 2024.[13]
In returning to the Asian Rugby Championship for 2024, the UAE reignited their chances for World Cup qualification in 2027. With an expanded competition for the 2027 event, the qualification process granted Asia a direct spot into the World Cup along side the already qualified Japan. This encouraged further development for the UAE, and after finishing in second in the 2024 Asia Rugby Championship, World Rugby stepped in to facilitate international test matches during the 2024 November international window.[14]
In July 2025, the UAE finished as runner-up in the 2025 Asia Rugby Championship, seeing them advance to World Cup qualification play-offs, the first time they have made it out of their regional bracket.[15]
Overall
Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by the United Arab Emirates national XV at test level up until 5 July 2025.
| Opponent | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Win % | For | Aga | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 3 | 94 | –91 |
| Brazil | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 3 | 66 | –63 |
| Chinese Taipei | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 16 | 12 | +4 |
| Germany | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 20 | 26 | –6 |
| Guam | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 82 | 7 | +75 |
| Hong Kong | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0% | 55 | 418 | –363 |
| Japan | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0% | 6 | 310 | –304 |
| Kazakhstan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 70 | 41 | +29 |
| Kenya | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 12 | 55 | –43 |
| Malaysia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 50% | 103 | 75 | +28 |
| Pakistan | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 100% | 188 | 3 | +185 |
| Philippines | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% | 34 | 48 | –24 |
| Singapore | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 13 | 30 | –17 |
| South Korea | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50% | 105 | 190 | –85 |
| Sri Lanka | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 33.33% | 59 | 67 | –8 |
| Thailand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 172 | 52 | +120 |
| Uzbekistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 63 | 13 | +50 |
| Zimbabwe | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 100% | 36 | 127 | –91 |
| Total | 38 | 14 | 23 | 1 | 36.84% | 1,040 | 1,644 | –604 |
Tournament history
Rugby World Cup
| Rugby World Cup record | Qualification | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Squad | Head coach | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | |
| 1987 | Not invited | Not invited | |||||||||||||||
| 1991 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||
| 1995 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Did not qualify | Round 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 245 | |||||||||
| 2019 | Round 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 200 | 134 | ||||||||||
| 2023 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||
| 2027 | To be determined | P/O | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 180 | 203 | |||||||||
| 2031 | To be determined | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 408 | 582 | |
| |||||||||||||||||
Asia Rugby Championship
| Asia Rugby Championship record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Division | Position | P | W | D | L | F | A |
| 2013 | Five Nations | Fifth | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 245 |
| 2014 | Division 1 | Third | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 30 |
| 2015 | Division 2 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 88 | 64 |
| 2016 | Division 2 | Champions | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 133 | 31 |
| 2017 | Division 1 | Fourth | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 65 | 103 |
| 2019 | Division 2 | Champions | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 132 | 19 |
| 2023 | Division 1 | Champions | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 188 | 3 |
| 2024 | Championship | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 103 | 103 |
| 2025 | Championship | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 77 | 100 |
| Total | 23 | 12 | 0 | 11 | 827 | 698 | ||
Cup of Nations
| Cup of Nations record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Position | P | W | D | L | F | A |
| 2011 | Fourth | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 29 | 193 |
| 2012 | Fourth | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 210 |
| Total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 52 | 403 | |
Squad
UAE players selected for the 2025 Asia Rugby Championship.
- Caps updated: 5 July 2025 (after Sri Lanka v UAE)
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moeneeb Galant | Hooker | 10 | Dubai Exiles RFC | |
| Michael Sejean | Hooker | 3 | Dubai Sharks | |
| Riaan Barnard | Prop | 10 | Barrelhouse RC | |
| Epeli Davetawalu | Prop | 28 June 1989 | 10 | Dubai Exiles RFC |
| Pieter Kilian | Prop | 7 February 1992 | 10 | Dubai Sharks |
| Lukas Waddington | Prop | 4 December 1991 | 12 | Dubai Exiles RFC |
| Jaen Botes | Lock | 5 March 1990 | 18 | Dubai Exiles RFC |
| Marcus Guerin | Lock | 1 December 1993 | 8 | Dubai Tigers RFC |
| Brad Janes | Back row | 3 | Jebel Ali Dragons | |
| Ethan Mathews | Back row | 3 | Dubai Hurricanes | |
| Chris McKee | Back row | 7 | Abu Dhabi Harlequins | |
| Matthew Mills (c) | Back row | 14 August 1988 | 12 | Dubai Exiles RFC |
| Sean Stevens | Back row | 15 November 1990 | 5 | Abu Dhabi Harlequins |
| Emosi Vecanaua | Back row | 4 | Shaheen Rugby | |
| Sam Bullock | Scrum-half | 2 | Esher | |
| Dave Evans | Scrum-half | 3 | Abu Dhabi Harlequins | |
| Andrew Semple | Scrum-half | 8 | Abu Dhabi Harlequins | |
| Max Johnson | Fly-half | 3 | Doha RFC | |
| James Crossley | Centre | 6 January 1993 | 6 | Dubai Exiles RFC |
| Jack Stapley | Centre | 28 April 1996 | 4 | Nottingham |
| Justin Walsh | Centre | 3 April 1992 | 5 | Dubai Exiles RFC |
| Liam Caldwell | Wing | 6 | Dubai Exiles RFC | |
| Sakiusa Naisau | Wing | 26 May 1992 | 12 | Dubai Tigers RFC |
| Tobias Oakeley | Wing | 9 | Dubai Hurricanes | |
| Niko Volavola | Wing | 1 January 1994 | 3 | Jebel Ali Dragons |
| Gerard Pieterse | Fullback | 3 | CS Rugby 1863 |
Past coaches
| Years | Coach |
|---|---|
| 2012–2013 | Duncan Hall Jr. |
| 2014–2015 | Roelof Kotze |
| 2015–2023 | Apollo Perelini |
| 2024–present | Jacques Benade |
See also
References
- ^ "Latest League Table Standings For UAE Rugby". Yalla Sports. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ "Major boost for West Asia" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 2009-01-16. Archived from the original on 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^ "UAE become 100th full member of the IRB -". RTÉ Sport. RTÉ. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ "Rugby in the UAE".
- ^ "Arabian Gulf Rugby History – The Rise & Fall of the AGRFU".
- ^ "Dubai Rugby Sevens: History". Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ "UAE rugby draw 13-13 with Sri Lanka in Asian Five Nations opener".
- ^ "On this day: April 29, 2011 – UAE win first rugby Test match".
- ^ "International Rugby Board - Hong Kong eye "early Christmas present"". Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2011-12-10.
- ^ "Japan continue to lead the way in Asia".
- ^ "UAE heads to Malaysia for Asian Rugby Division II event".
- ^ "UAE eye second promotion under Perelini".
- ^ "UAE Rugby Crowned Men's Division 1 Champions in Lahore".
- ^ "UAE Rugby Facebook Post". Facebook. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ "Captain Joshua Hrstich "overwhelmed" by Hong Kong China's RWC 2027 qualification". 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.