Splitting his time: Emirati rugby player Adel Al Hendi is a wanted man

Club versus country furore upsets the Abu Dhabi Harlequins ahead of Friday's UAE Premiership final against the Dubai Hurricanes, writes Paul Radley.

UAE sevens player Adel Al Hendi, centre, will have to miss the UAE Premiership final on Friday because of national team duty. Courtesy photo

DUBAI // Roelof Kotze, the UAE performance manager, said it is a sign of the progress made by rugby in the UAE that a club versus country row developed this week over an Emirati player.

Abu Dhabi Harlequins are disappointed they are unable to select Adel Al Hendi on the wing for Friday’s UAE Premiership final against Dubai Hurricanes.

The university student scored one of the capital side’s seven tries in the win over Xodus Wasps at the weekend, which clinched their place in the season finale.

He has to miss the game because he is also one of the outstanding players in the UAE sevens team, who are playing in a tournament in Al Ain on Friday and Saturday against teams from Afghanistan, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

The club even enquired about the possibility he be released after the UAE’s three group games tomorrow, to drive to Dubai for the final, then return for the final day in Al Ain on Saturday.

The game’s rulers have decided he should play in a tournament that the UAE must succeed in, if they are to play in the Asian Sevens Series next year.

“The whole programme for this year has been based on this weekend,” Kotze said of the sevens tournament for developing Asian rugby nations in Al Ain.

“Everything we have done has been focused on this. We are very excited about the fact Adel has been holding his own in the league, which is why we released him to play in the league last weekend.”

Al Hendi, who is the only Emirati regularly playing at Premiership level, was permitted to play against Wasps, while those plying their trade in the Conference were pulled from their fixtures.

Kotze said more consideration will need to be paid to scheduling to avoid a similar clash in future.

“We were having a similar debate earlier this year when it came to national XV players playing in invitational charity games and Emirati players never even entered into that [debate],” he said. “I think it is a good sign that we are having this conversation. It is something we must consider in the future when arranging tournaments that something like this is actually becoming an issue.”

Jeremy Manning, the player-coach of Harlequins, is disappointed Al Hendi is unable to figure in a cup final that he has made such a valuable contribution to reaching.

“It is the biggest game in UAE rugby, and the one everyone wants to play in,” Manning said.

“We have given Adel a chance this season and he has been outstanding. For him not to be able to play in this game is ridiculous, to be honest, and we are not happy.

“I am gutted for him because he has worked so hard for the past eight weeks and this is the sort of reward everyone strives for, to make one of these finals.

“For him not to make it is sad. He brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to our side.”

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