Saturday, Oct 19, 2013

Abu Dhbai It was a day to cherish for the four winning teams from the 2012-13 HSBC Youth Rugby Series at the Dubai Sports City on Friday. Rory Lawson, former Scotland scrum-half and a professional coach of the HSBC Penguin International Coaching Academy, put the four young teams through their paces in a Finals Day training programme.

The four teams - this year all from the Dubai Hurricanes and Dubai Exiles clubs - were treated to expert coaching and advice, followed by a presentation of trophies and new HSBC training and playing kit to celebrate their achievements last season.

Thirty-two year old Lawson, who is famous for captaining Scotland to victory over South Africa at Murrayfield in 2010, was all too happy to impart skills and knowledge to the young players, having been raised in a rugby mad family himself: “From a young age, I always dreamt of being a rugby player, so it gives me great pleasure to be here today and giving something back to these talented young players. My message to them is to work hard, believe in themselves and most of all enjoy their rugby. The game has given me so many great memories to look back on and I hope it will do the same for these young players.”

The HSBC Youth Rugby Series, now entering its third year, brings together the region’s four biggest youth rugby festivals, offering teams the chance to earn points across the season in their age-group and win an exclusive grand prize experience. The 2013-14 HSBC Youth Rugby Series kicks off later this month with the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Harlequins Junior Rugby Tournament followed in the New Year by the HSBC Rugby Festival Dubai, HSBC Rugby Festival Bahrain and HSBC Rugby Festival Doha.

Marcus Hurry, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at HSBC UAE, has seen the series grow in stature and is looking forward to the 2013-14 being the most successful season yet. Speaking ahead of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Harlequins Junior Rugby tournament on October 25-26, Hurry had this to say:

“The HSBC Youth Rugby Series has encouraged thousands of youngsters across the Middle East to get active and develop important values through rugby - we expect over 5,000 youngsters to take part in the 2013-14 HSBC Youth Rugby Series including more Emirati and international teams than ever before. Congratulations to all those who took part in today’s training and I wish all the youngsters involved every success for the future.”

Staff Report

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