Shaheen Rugby team prepares for Asian Clubs Championship

May 16, 2026 / 5:35 PM

Sharjah24: Shaheen Rugby Team, affiliated with the UAE Rugby Federation, is continuing its preparations for the first edition of the Asian Clubs Rugby Championship, scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka on 4 and 5 July.

The participation forms part of a long-term preparation plan aimed at supporting and developing players of the UAE national rugby team ahead of upcoming competitions, most notably the Asian Rugby Sevens Championship.

Intensive training programme

The team is currently holding training sessions three times a week at The Sevens Stadium, under the supervision of head coach Khaldoun Al Maleh and assistant coach Yousef Shaker.

Approximately 30 players are participating in the camp, with the technical staff set to select the 12 best players to represent the team at the Asian tournament.

Friendly match and standout performers

During the preparation period, Shaheen played a friendly match against UUDS, which featured several players from the Fiji National Rugby Sevens Team.

Players Mohammed Ali and Mubarak Al Mansoori delivered standout performances, earning praise from the coaching staff.

Injury setback for Levai

The federation also confirmed the absence of player Levai from the tournament after he sustained an injury during his recent participation in a tournament in France.

Federation support and long-term development

For his part, Mohammed Sultan Al Zaabi, Secretary-General of the UAE Rugby Federation, said the team has reached a high level of readiness ahead of the Asian competition.

He explained that the federation has focused on providing the best preparation programmes and opportunities for international exposure for players, including participation in several international tournaments, most recently the Monaco International Tournament in France, where the team finished runners-up and won the silver medal.

Al Zaabi added that Shaheen enjoys strong support from the federation led by Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, noting that the team represents an important development pathway for the UAE national team because of the promising young talent it includes.

He expressed hope that the team would deliver a strong performance in the inaugural Asian Clubs Championship, describing the tournament as an important step in preparing national team players for future continental competitions.