
Building a Rugby Future in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Rugby Club is on a mission to breathe new life into rugby in Saudi Arabia, with club manager Aandre Wessels leading the charge.
Wessels, a South African who has called Jeddah home since 2017, is dedicated to building a sustainable and competitive rugby culture in a city where the sport boasts a rich, yet fluctuating, history.
‘Always rebuilding’
In a recent interview, Wessels shared insights into the clubโs challenges and their vision for the future. Jeddah Rugby, like many teams in Saudi Arabia, is reliant on expats, many of whom come and go within a few years due to work contracts. This constant turnover makes it tough to establish consistency.
“The main issue here is that most players are expats, and they only stay for a few years. So, weโre always rebuilding.”
Despite these hurdles, Wessels and Jeddah Rugby Club have big plans. One of their major goals is to create a more inclusive sporting environment by collaborating with other contact sports clubs in Jeddah. Theyโre exploring the idea of merging with the local American football team to form a broader “contact sports” club, which could help expand their player pool and managerial resources.
‘Focusing on Sevens’
For now, Jeddah Rugby is focusing on the sevens format, a faster-paced version of rugby.
“Weโre focusing on sevens because itโs what we can realistically compete in with our current numbers,” Wessels said.
The team participated in the Saudi Sevens League last season, finishing third, and theyโre aiming even higher this year.
On October 11th, Jeddah Rugby Club participated in the Saudi Games Rugby 7s Championship, where they delivered an impressive performance. The team reached the finals but narrowly missed out on the top spot, losing to the Saudi Warriors, a squad composed entirely of Saudi players. Despite this loss, securing second place in the championship demonstrated that Jeddah Rugby is on the rise.
This strong showing has further solidified the belief that the club has a bright future. Wesselsโ confidence in his team and their potential has Jeddah Rugby heading in the right direction.
‘A new era for rugby in Saudi’
The long-term vision for Jeddah Rugby goes beyond just playing the sport. Wessels is passionate about developing the sport at the grassroots level, which includes starting programs for youth and women.
“We want to create a structure where we can engage with schools, train PE teachers, and offer rugby as part of the curriculum”
The idea is to create a talent pipeline that could one day feed into the national team, and even help Saudi Arabia compete on the international stage.
While the club is still in its rebuilding phase, Wessels remains optimistic about the future. He sees the Jeddah Rugby Club not just as a team, but as part of the larger movement to grow rugby in Saudi Arabia.
“This is the start of a new era for rugby in Saudi, and we want to be a part of that legacy,” he said.
With their second-place finish in the Saudi Games, Jeddah Rugby is proving that they can compete at the highest level, and Wesselsโ leadership ensures they are in good hands.
Wesselsโ passion for the game hasnโt wavered despite being sidelined by a knee injury. Now focusing on coaching, he is committed to building the team and the sport from the sidelines. His long-term goal is to help Jeddah Rugby establish itself as a competitive force, both in Saudi Arabia and regionally.
“Weโre not here just to participate. We want to compete, and we want to win.”
For now, Jeddah Rugby continues to train twice a week at the British International School of Jeddah, preparing for their next challenge. With a solid vision and passionate leadership, the future looks bright for rugby in this coastal city.
About the author
Gamaliel Torres
I'm a passionate sports fanatic with a deep love for discovering and learning about different eras in sports history. Recently graduated from university, I'm excited to uncover stories and study the rich history of sports within our community in the Emirates and the broader Middle East.