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Rugby history to be made as Israel and UAE to play first game
By Ian Cameron
Israel and the United Arab Emirates' first meeting on in a field sports arena will be a rugby union match, it has been revealed.
The two teams trained this week in the UAE and will contest a friendly game tomorrow at Rugby Park in Dubai Sports City, a historic day for rugby and the sporting world.
The two nations were part of a landmark peace deal in 2020. On August 13, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States signed a joint statement, normalising relations between the countries. Now they will contest a rugby match, the first of its kind, this Friday (March 19th).
The Israeli team, including their Sevens players, flew out to the UAE on Monday ahead of their joint training sessions.
"This collaboration is a fantastic example of what sports can do," Israel's head coach, South African-born Kevin Musikanth, told The Jerusalem Post. "It can bring people together, it doesn't know any barriers... There was no hesitation for working together."
"Rugby is a game born around discipline and comradery - the ability to work together for something greater than yourself," he says, adding that he hopes the upcoming events will change the way Israelis view rugby.
"Our team has a high level of natural abilities...hopefully, with this historic event, the public will be able to identify the fact that we have a talented team with high aspirations. With the country's support we should be able to progress."
Israel are set to compete against Romania, Ukraine, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Sweden, Luxemburg, Denmark, Latvia, Hungary and Turkey in the upcoming 2021 European Rugby Championship Cup.
UPDATE 13.11 19-3-2-21: First line: Their first meeting in a field sports' contest as opposed to any sporting contest.
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Latest Comments
Ben Smith. My Man! So glad this is only "opinion piece". I was Reading the headline and straight away assumed you meant a 2 horse race between Pieter and Cheslin. There was no way you you meant Caelan.
Cheslin is not only the most exciting winger of this generation, but also a multi disciplined performer, Defence, Lineouts, Conversions and scrumming. LOL. He can do it all. He can put players twice his size on there rear ends and side step at full pace around on coming traffic on a penny.
I will also note that there has been since 2009 till 2017 only NZ winners bar the great one Thierry Dusautoir for France in 2011. And this was because they were the best team in the world winning back to back world cups, also having the best players at that time nominated. Never before has there been more than 2 players from the same country nominated for the award, but this year there was 3 from SA. All Dbl World Cup winning Players.
No one has been so put out about who was nominated in earlier awards, but for some reason you are.
I am thankful that its not up to you to decide on the "token" choices. (Rather lets not use that language again). The world chose the players and lets leave it there.
I don't Blame Rugby Pass for allowing this to print, but there should have been some profound editing on this.
Thanks for your opinion, But maybe lets keep it that just yours not anyone else's.
Go to commentsIf OZ are to regain their lost credibility they now need to tip up the Irish or at least run them close. Can't see that happening even though miracles occasionally occur
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