Senior officials within the UAE Rugby Association (UAERA) as well as the International Rugby Board (IRB) must take the blame for the current malaise with the national side, according to the past and present chairmen of the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union (AGRFU).
While the UAE are in their second season as an independent nat-ion, the drive to set up the UAERA began around four years ago after the IRB signalled its intention to disband the AGRFU.
The decision was made in order to grow the number of countries playing the game, but although the regional body had been running the sport in the Middle East for almost two decades, it seems little attention was paid to processes they already had in place.
“It’s been going on for four years really, but initially part of the directive from the IRB was that the UAERA had to meet with the Arabian Gulf representatives and it was always an uphill battle; it was always a one-way communication,” Arabian Gulf chairman Andy Cole revealed to Sport360°.
“There were meetings initially. I think that’s because it was forced upon them more than they wanted to, but I agreed. I nearly got into trouble with the IRB at one point, so I’ve been very cautious with what I’ve said to the press.”
He added: “I’ve left the door open. If they want any advice or help I’m here, but nothing.”
Cole suggests the problem goes a lot further than public enemy No1 UAERA chief executive Ian Bremner, declaring that the Irishman’s bosses “are not rugby people”.
Cole’s predecessor at the AGRFU, David Skidmore, squarely blames the IRB who, he feels, have contrived to make the UAERA run bef-ore they can walk without proper financial backing or resources to make the transition a success.
“I think there were certain individuals in the IRB organisation who were very keen to see individual unions in this region and other parts of the world by hook or by crook, irrespective of logic,” he said.
“When it was first announced that this was the way the IRB wanted to go forward we discussed it with many Emirati rugby players who were going to be involved in the UAE rugby union, and even they agreed that the timescale was too quick. And I think that’s probably it, I don’t think anyone locally is doing anything wrong.
“They are all good people who want to bring the game forward. I just think the IRB put a lot of pressure on them to become an independent union in a very short time.”
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