DUBAI // Was the 2015 Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens the moment the ancient order of rugby was changed for good?
The point when the game was tipped inexorably away from the long-established rugby behemoths towards the Olympic superpowers?
At the very least, this weekend won over some significant observers.
“Great format, perfect for the Olympics,” said Michael Johnson, the sprint king from America, after taking in the Dubai Sevens.
It is difficult to say for sure whether a new world order is in the throes of rising in sevens. The winners were, after all, the big men from a set of tiny islands in the Pacific.
If Ben Ryan has his way, too, Fiji’s pursuit next summer of a first Olympic medal of any colour might have as limited a player pool as possible.
The coach wants players based on the island, who earn a basic wage of around 20,000 Fijian dollars (Dh34,000) for playing sevens for the national team, to have the first shot at the squad for Rio de Janeiro.
More on Dubai Rugby Sevens
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‘We were a J9 family’: Waisale Serevi keeps his promise at Dubai Sevens
Fijian players on lucrative contracts abroad will find it tough to play their way in.
“It is a big thing we have over the other teams, who can bring in their Test match superstars,” Ryan said.
“They will make a huge difference to their teams, but if we can go to the Olympics with a team from the island, they are going to do absolutely everything for the shirt. There’ll be no rockstars in there on rock star money.”
Fiji aside, though, the most eye-catching performances in each of the men’s and women’s competitions were by nations known for Olympic, rather than rugby, pedigree.
Russia, who still have yet to qualify for the Rio Games, were unexpected runners-up in the women’s event, while the United States followed up their win in the previous tournament in London by finishing third in Dubai.
As a compelling story-pointer, both triumphed over New Zealand, the most successful rugby nation in history.
On the first day of the women’s tournament, Russia looked to be playing virtually unopposed as they thrashed the defending champions 33-7. The US, meanwhile, beat the All Blacks Sevens men twice in two days.
America’s men are on a fine run of form, but their credibility as an actual force in the game needs a larger sample size than two tournaments. “We are setting ourselves the big task of trying to break into the top four, being a Tier 2 nation that is now deemed to be a rugby sevens force,” Mike Friday, the USA coach, said.
“We have a long way to go.”
For a start, it is unclear how deep their pool of talent is. If either of their speedy wings Perry Baker or Carlin Isles, or both, were to be absent, for example, it is fair to assume their potency would be greatly inhibited.
Compare that to New Zealand. They suffered because of injuries this weekend, and still finished fourth.
Who do they have to bring in? The next cab off the rank could be one of the biggest stars of all.
Gordon Tietjens, the New Zealand coach, only joked that he might have to fish Sonny Bill Williams from the sponsors’ chalet to plug a gap in his squad.
Next time round it might be for real.
Williams, Liam Messam, and Ardie Savea will soon be on hand to prove this weekend was an aberration rather than a crisis.
So, although Russia took silver home with them from the UAE, and the USA bronze, there is enough evidence to suggest rugby’s historic powers need not fret too much just yet.
pradley@thenational.ae
Follow us on twitter at @NatSportUAE
The biog
Born: near Sialkot, Pakistan, 1981
Profession: Driver
Family: wife, son (11), daughter (8)
Favourite drink: chai karak
Favourite place in Dubai: The neighbourhood of Khawaneej. “When I see the old houses over there, near the date palms, I can be reminded of my old times. If I don’t go down I cannot recall my old times.”
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Brief scores:
Manchester United 4
Young 13', Mata 28', Lukaku 42', Rashford 82'
Fulham 1
Kamara 67' (pen),
Red card: Anguissa (68')
Man of the match: Juan Mata (Man Utd)
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
The%20Specs
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh125,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh170,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 (D)1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Jawan
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What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
Top tips
Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
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Company%20Profile
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Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.