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A rugby extravaganza to be remembered
 
The site of the Dubai Sevens was still not the best as some areas are under construction. The sight of rugby was yet the best and will be remembered for a long time by those who were there. Dubai Rugby Sevens recognized as a sporting and socializing evnt lived up to the reputation it has built over time.

The gates for rugby opened as thousands of fans flocked to the new home of the Dubai Rugby Sevens. Besides the main rugby event “the IRB Sevens” the Dubai extravaganza included over 450 other matches. There were local regional and invitational teams kicking off in this year’s competition. It was rugby while having fun from eight in the morning to nine in the night in a sprawling complex that will host the Rugby World Cup Sevens in March 2009. The games kicked off on Thursday the 27th and on Friday a record crowd of around 50,000 filled in to the new Emirates facility. This is a spectacular sporting complex that will take cricket and netball in the future. Adjacent is a second pitch in a bowl surrounded by grass embankments and can house 15,000 spectators. Around the club house are four other rugby pitches. This complex built and operated by the Emirates has many facilities that include broadcast, medical and hospitality areas.

The big games during were on Friday and Saturday were the main course while there were many side dishes with games starting on Thursday the 27th . The side show included the conclusion of over 450 games over three days. The side plays amidst a giant event gave the opportunity and space for socialization while stretching their limbs away from the main stand. Those side dishes too were carefully thought of and well cooked. The teams did give their best whether it was an invitation event, a social event or a veteran’s event.
Dubai rugby sevens in progress


On the main pitch it was rugby that kept the massive crowd on their feet and there was a deafening cheer from all four corners. Champions New Zealand started off with promise being on top of pool A and beat Kenya in the Quarter Finals. In pool B the leaers were South Africa the 2006 champs who beat Australia in the quarters. In pool C Samoa after a tough call against France got into stride as they ended leading pool C. England put up an impressive performance in pool D and beat Fiji convincingly to head the pool and went onto beat Argentina in the quarter final.

The two semi finals were thrillers with both games being taken to the wire. New Zealand was beaten by England 19 to 21. England got the better of the fancied Kiwi side to lead of 0 to 21 at half time. The Kiwi’s but came back strong in the second half as England lost players due to injury.

South Africa with a 40meter drop goal in extra time beat Fiji by 10 points to 7 in another thriller to take on England in the finals.

The final between had its moments for both sides before South Africa made that last minute run to beat England by 19 points to 12. South Africa took on an English side that unexpectedly impressed almost all at the ground during the week end.

The confident SA side took the half time with what was thought a winning lead of 12 points to nil.. England determined as they were came back to level scores in the second half. It was just thirty five seconds to go when the South Africans stunned not only the English team but all the spectators with some brilliant running and ball passing that ended with the cup in their hands. What was electrifying was the atmosphere out there with 50,000 people watching. The support that made worthwhile for the players and all others to perform and remember.

What has all this to do with us and can we learn from what’s happening around us. One thing that I saw t is the passion in which all involved worked to achieve that great status. If not all but the majority of the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union are expatriates working there. They work in earnest and with a passion for a game. It is not that they don’t have differences but that the outcome is what is important.

As all else is taking a stride forward if not at the highest level but at least to bring the best closer to home we continue to grumble and fight for trivial matters.

Also this IRB Sevens saw two Sri Lankan Referees being Assistant Referees viz; Dilroy Fernando and Nizam Jamaldeen. They were there along with Asian Referees from Arabian Gulf, Japan Hong Kong and China. The comment as typical of Sri Lankan I heard was that of “they ran touch only” As usual whatever yours does it is not good enough. The comment is outdated as today we have assistant Referees whose role is more vital that when they were referred to as touch judges. The importance from a referee point for Sri Lanka is that they were considered for a world event and will be there for others in the future. Only if we learn to value what we have and who gives what without trying to lift the veil to find what is underneath. The possibility is there for the duo to be at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in March 2007. Wait and see!!!
= Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB
 
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