The UAE capital’s Official Youth Rugby Programme will commence in September
Have a kid that loves rugby? This is their chance to shine!
The second year of Small Blacks Abu Dhabi (SBAD) – the UAE capital’s Official Youth Rugby Programme licenced by New Zealand Rugby – is well underway, with exciting plans in store.
Starting 4 September, the 2023-2024 calendar will include introductory, free, Open Days on 31 August and 1 September, five SBAD skills camps throughout the year, demonstration and training days with the 2022-23 World Series Champions – All Blacks Sevens Men’s squad and Black Ferns Women’s Sevens squad and so much more!
For the first time, SBAD will also offer the chance for your kids to be part of a unique junior tag tournament, aimed at creating a wider UAE championship. The tournament will invite teams from eight affiliated clubs, with at least 300 kids per week to compete in U6, U7 and U8 age groups across 10 weekends.
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The U9-U14 age groups will continue to feature in the UAE Rugby Federation tournaments and friendly matches from October 2023 to March 2024. The number of inter-club games will be raised to over 30 for the 2023-24 campaign to give even more youngsters the opportunity to play rugby in the UAE.
The weekly girls’ sessions will continue for girls aged 14 and under, while mixed sessions are run at all age groups from U4 to U14.
SBAD has played a crucial role in growing rugby participation in the UAE since its inaugural year in 2022. Over the past year, SBAD has hosted over 10 rugby festivals with each featuring 200 rugby participants while its girls’ group, which comprises three teams participated in 10 tournaments throughout the UAE.
SBAD made history in 2022 as New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) only officially licensed rugby programme outside of New Zealand and has quickly established itself as the UAE’s fastest-growing rugby club.
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