World Cup winner Josh Lewsey to play Dubai Rugby Sevens for Abu Dhabi-based charity team

Josh Lewsey, centre, will play alongside brothers Tom and Ed for the Mike Ballard Foundation Conquistadors. Victor Besa for The National.

DUBAI // Josh Lewsey, the World Cup-winning former England player, will return to the Dubai Rugby Sevens next weekend, to play for an Abu Dhabi-based charity team.

The former Wasps wing is set play alongside as his two brothers, Ed and Tom, for the first time when he turns out for the Mike Ballard Foundation Conquistadors.

The team, set up by the Abu Dhabi Harlequin Ballard to raise funds and goodwill for worthy causes through rugby, play in the International Social competition at the Sevens, starting on Thursday.

“We have never played in the same team together, mainly because of the age difference,” said Ed, who is four years younger than the senior most brother, Tom.

“The older two played together for the school team, and I played in the same team as the middle brother, Josh, but never all together. Since then we have all played for different clubs.”

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It is perhaps fitting the three brothers should play their first match together on a field in the Middle East, given the disparate directions their careers have taken them.

Josh, who will turn 40 the day before the Sevens starts, won 55 caps for England, three for the British & Irish Lions, and was later an administrator with the Welsh Rugby Union. Tom, 41, played for London Welsh, before moving to Australia to work in finance.

Youngest brother Ed typifies their travels. Having followed his brothers at school near London, he went on to play for Welsh colleges while a student in Swansea.

After moving to Abu Dhabi late in his career, and continuing his playing career at club level with Harlequins in the capital, he was subsequently picked to play for the UAE. That completed a unique family double of international representatives for England and UAE.

“We have all played against each other while playing professionally, but not together, so it is very exciting,” Ed said.

“There will never be a chance for us to do this again, so we are marking the occasion by our parents coming out for the tournament as well.

“We are all set, the only challenge will be getting everyone fit and on the pitch at once, which is by no means guaranteed.”

The Sevens will pit the Conquistadors charity side back together for the first time since they took a goodwill tour to Madagascar, taking with them rugby kit and medical supplies, in June.

“Through rugby, we are able to do incredible things to help the people who don’t have the means to pick themselves up, whether they are involved in rugby or not,” Ballard said.

“On our tour to Madagascar, all of the medical equipment that we delivered was targeted to the people who needed it more than any of us can imagine.”

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