The UAE’s daunting task to make an impression at the Hong Kong round of the HSBC Asian Rugby Sevens Series became tougher after the players’ confidence was shaken by last week’s decision not to send them to September’s Asian Games, according to team manager Mohamed Shaker.

The 35-year-old’s youthful side were thumped yesterday and on Saturday, finishing bottom after shipping 160 points in heavy losses to opponents Malaysia, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Kazakhstan.

The mood in the developing 12-man squad, which boasted the lowest average age at the tournament and contained four new call-ups, was not helped after the UAE National Olympic Committee informed them on Wednesday that they would not be able to take up their wildcard entry into the upcoming event in South Korea.

“Our Olympic Committee decided to not take the rugby team, we found out two days before we travelled,” Shaker said. “It affected the players, this was a disadvantage.

“The players are very disappointed. It really affected the senior players, as this was the time to play.”

The withdrawal means the UAE are now focusing on the Asian Rugby Football Union’s Olympic pre-qualifiers in Al Ain (October 31) and India (November 29-30).

Part of this drive will see contact made with UAE Premiership sides today, to try and arrange friendly sevens matches. The team’s only try in Hong Kong was scored in the 40-5, 11/12th-place play-off defeat to Kazakhstan.

“We are still learning, as we changed the whole team with most of them being young boys aged 18 or 19,” Shaker said. “Our plan is not for now, it is for the future.”

The UAE next play on September 6-7 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the second of four HSBC Asian Rugby Sevens Series meetings.