UAE Rugby Contingents Journey to Colombo for Asia Sevens Showdown
The national men's and women's rugby teams embark upon a competitive mission to Sri Lanka, seeking to elevate their performance in the second leg of the prestigious Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series.
The UAE men’s and women’s national rugby teams are preparing for an important chapter in their competitive calendar, departing for Colombo to participate in the second leg of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2026. The tournament will unfold across Saturday and Sunday, presenting a significant opportunity for both squads to refine their technical capabilities and accumulate invaluable experience against formidable regional opponents.
The delegation will be led by Mohamed Sultan Al Zaabi, Secretary-General of the UAE Rugby Federation, who has emphasised the strategic importance of the forthcoming competition. The second leg represents a crucial platform for the teams to build upon the foundations established during their opening campaign in Suzhou, China, where the men’s team concluded in sixth position and the women’s team in seventh.
Men’s Team Fixtures
The UAE men’s contingent has been positioned in Pool A alongside Sri Lanka, India and Hong Kong. Their tournament campaign will commence with an encounter against the host nation, Sri Lanka, followed by competitive fixtures against India and Hong Kong as they progress through their group stage matches.
Women’s Team Challenge
The women’s team finds itself drawn in Pool D, where they will face India, Japan and Iran. Their opening challenge will be against India, with subsequent matches scheduled against Japan and Iran, offering varied competitive experiences against accomplished regional sides.
Al Zaabi has articulated the federation’s commitment to continuous improvement, noting that the Colombo leg represents an opportunity to advance both teams’ technical performance and compete meaningfully within Asia’s rugby landscape. The successive stages of preparation undertaken by both squads are designed to culminate in positive outcomes that demonstrate measurable progress from their initial competition in China.
The journey to Sri Lanka underscores the UAE’s dedication to developing rugby excellence and cultivating competitive strength across both men’s and women’s programmes within the broader Asian rugby community.
Source: WAM