UAE rugby squad still strong

Kazakhstan captain Timur Mashurov said he saw no difference in talent between the old Arabian Gulf team and the new UAE side which now competes in the Asian Five Nations. In fact, he believes the squad has improved as a result of the union's break-up. The UAE beat Kazakhstan 24-10 at Zayed Sports City in a historic upset on Friday, it was their first competitive home fixture and their first win since inception four months ago, when the region-wide AGRFU split as a result of rugby seven's inclusion in the Olympics. Although the squad's depth was halved, the UAE emerged from the split still able to compete at the highest level in Asia. Outside half Jonathon Grady scored two penalty kicks on 15 and 20 minutes to make it 6-0, but Kazakhstan came back to score a try through wing Sergei Kdnev on 30 minutes, the visitors then missed their conversion. Delicately poised at 6-5, the UAE scored a try on 35 minutes via reserve Andrew Miller. Grady missed the conversion but scored a penalty just before half-time to make it 14-5. Consolatory try Grady scored another penalty five minutes in to make it 17-5. Munib Hadad then wrapped the game up with a try on 80 minutes. Grady converted before Kazakhstan scored a consolatory try at the death through outside half Daulet Akymbekov. Kazakhstan missed their conversion for the game to finish 24-10. Asked how the UAE squad has changed since its AGRFU days, Kazakhstan captain Mushurov said: "In my opinion I thought they were much tougher. They are almost all the guys we have already played three or four times. There are not many changes, but the changes they have made have made them stronger." Good marker UAE captain Mike Cox Hill said: "To be at home and get our first win against an old foe just adds to the occasion. This is a good marker of where we are as a team. Some didn't have the belief in us after the AGRFU was disbanded but hopefully we've proved our doubters wrong. I hope we can utilise this support, set the bar and move on from here." "The AGRFU was a fantastic brotherhood. Five of us have carried that ethos through, but the guys that are coming through nationals and newly eligible players, everybody's adding something and raising the bar." "This is a new collection. We're our own team in our right and this team has had a draw [Sri Lanka 13-13] and now a win. We're not out of our depth in the A5N in any way shape or form. We're here, we're here to stay, consolidation was the first thing second place was the next objective, we'll do that and build year on year." The UAE now face tough tests with Japan at home and Hong Kong away in the last set of A5N fixtures on May 13 and 21. While UAE will be looking for second behind a tough Japan side, Kazakhstan will face a relegation dogfight with Sri Lanka. From: Gulf News