This Weekend, the Asia Rugby Championship kicks off and will see the UAE Senior Mens side take on Hong Kong, Korea and Malaysia.

On June 1st, the UAE will be hosted by Hong Kong at Hong Kong Football Club, followed by two home fixtures that will be played at the Dubai Sevens Stadium on the 9th and 21st of June respectively.

A Brief History of the Asia Rugby Championship

The ARC was first played in 1969 between Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and Thailand with Japan being crown champions of the inaugural tournament.

Between 1969 and 2008, the competition was a biannual event, which was dominated by Japan and South Korea, with Japan winning the competition a total of fifteen times during this period.

From 2008 – 2015, the tournament became an annual event and was rebranded the Asian Five Nations with Japan fully dominating and winning ech year throughout this period.

In 2015, we saw another revamp and the competition was renamed to it’s current title of the Asia Rugby Championship, once again with Japan proving to be a force to be reconned with, winning the tournament in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Present Day Asia Rugby Championship

This year’s opening Asia Rugby Championship match will see the newly promoted UAE Rugby squad face current Champions—Hong Kong, after a successful win over Korea in the 2022/23 season.

The fixtures will be streamed LIVE through the Yalla Sports website and also on YouTube through Asia Rugby. Those wanting to get close to the action will be able to watch the UAE side take on Korea and Malaysia at the Dubai Sevens Stadium, with FREE admission to everyone, so lets have a rally cry for a strong turnout for those all important home fixtures and show some support for our National representatives in our own back yard.

UAE Rugby Kick Off Times For Asia Rugby Championship 2024

Saturday 1st June – Hong Kong v UAE
Kick Off: 11:30 GST
Location: Hong Kong Football Club

Sunday 9th June – UAE v Korea
Kick Off: 19:30 GST
Location: Dubai Sevens Stadium

Friday 21st June – UAE v Malaysia
Kick Off: 19:30 GST
Location: Dubai Sevens Stadium

Director of Rugby – Apollo Perelini’s response when asked “what he’s be looking for from the team this weekend;”

“All we want from the boys in the first 5-10 mins is to start fast and be accurate in execution. Going up against a team like Hong kong who have been playing at this level for some time now requires a lot of focus, accuracy in our structures, detail execution in our positional responsibilities and pure toughness. We’re up where we should be, but now have to perform like we belong here.”

UAE Rugby Squad For the Asia Rugby Championship 2024

1. Pieter Killian – Exiles
2. Lukas Waddington – Exiles
3. Riaan Barbard – Hurricanes
4. Sunia Laladidi – Harlequins
5. David Gairn – Exiles
6. Moeneeb Galant – Exiles
7. Esekaia Dranibota – Tigers
8. Johnny Harris – Dragons
9. Marcus Guerin – Tigers
10. Epeli Davetawalu – Tigers
11. Siri Laladidi – Harlequins
12. Matt Mills (C) – Exiles
13. Ian Surtees – Dragons
14. Jaen Botes – Exiles
15. Chris McKee – Harlequins
16. Andrew Semple – Harlequins
17. Gareth Newman – Dragons
18. Carel Thomas – Exiles
19. Jamie Gavin – Dragons
20. Handre Snetler – Exiles
21. Sakiusa Naisau – Tigers
22. Rory Arthur – Exiles
23. Liam Caldwell – Tigers
24. Justin Walsh – Exiles
25. Toby Oakeley – Hurricanes
26. George Hipperson – Exiles
27. Emosi Vecenaua – Tigers
28. Diarmuid Carr – Dragons
29. Matt Richards – Dragons
30. Conor Kennedy – Exiles

UAE Coaching Staff

• Director of Rugby – Apollo Perelini
• Head Coach – Jacques Benade
• Backs Coach – DuRandt Gerber
• Aaron Persico – Forwards Coach