A host of countries will be descending on the UAE this weekend for the 2015 Middle East Touch Championships.

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More than 40 teams from the Middle East and beyond, including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, India and Sri Lanka, are expected to take part in the two-day competition, which is taking place at Al Ghazal Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, Thursday and Friday.

Two former international rugby league stars, Scott Prince and Apollo Perelini, will also be on-hand to provide expert tuition for younger fans of the game in a dedicated Daman Kids’ Skills Clinic.

John Larkins, of Middle East Touch, said: “The Middle East has really taken to touch. Teams from the region participated in the Touch World Cup in Australia back in April as well as the European National Championships in the UK.

“It’s highly inclusive and as a result uptake is growing fast, particularly within schools – more than 40 schools across the region are taking part in touch programmes which is fantastic news.

“This year’s Middle East Touch Championships highlights just why touch is such a great, communitydriven sport and has so much to offer.

“Where else can you have good, clean, competitive fun with your friends and at top venue with a fantastic atmosphere? “All the skills involved in the game are easily transferable to other sports.

“And that is why this year we have teamed up with a variety of sports clubs, offering spectators on the day the chance to try their hand at activities such as basketball, netball, football and Jiu Jitsu.”

Perelini said he is supporting the tournament in order to raise awareness for the sport.

“Learning the game of rugby can sometimes be a challenge especially the rules of the game,” he said. “However, touch rugby is very simple and can be learnt and played within a couple of sessions. It is a very enjoyable game for all ages and genders.”

WHAT: Middle East Touch Championships
WHEN: Thursday, October 22, and Friday, October 23
WHERE: Al Ghazal Golf Club, Abu Dhabi
Sport360 VERDICT: Scrum on down to Al Ghazal for a very different kind of rugby, but one that is equally as engaging as the full contact version. The Middle East Touch Championships will provide two days of enthralling action
CONTACT: email victoria@corporateaffairme.com or visit www.MiddleEastTouchChamps.me