Royal Tuskers, or the Emirates Old Royalist’s Rugby Team, will become the first Sri Lanka school alumni Rugby team to compete in the open division of the Gulf region in the HSBC Dubai 7’s tournament.
The HSBC Dubai 7’s rugby tournament, which started in 1970, is one of the longest-running sports tournaments in the Middle East.
The HSBC Dubai World Rugby 7’s series, in which international teams participate, is one of the world’s leading seven-a-side rugby tournaments.
HSBC Dubai 7s will be contested in three divisions.
- Gulf Men’s League – United Arab Emirates sports clubs and leading teams
- Gulf Men’s Open League – United Arab Emirates sports clubs B teams (including Royal Tuskers)
- Gulf Men’s Social League – United Arab Emirates social teams
In the Gulf men’s open league division, 16 teams will compete under 4 categories.
The Royal Tuskers team consists of ORUAE (Old Royalist’s in the United Arab Emirates) members. Started in 1999, this school alumni team has been playing tag rugby and seven-a-side rugby in the Emirates for a couple of decades now.
ORUAE’s President Shihan Sheriff, Secretary Shanaka Perera, and Patron Dhanika Gamage play vital roles, and Dayan Diddeniya captains the rugby team. The vice-captain is Arshad Jamaldeen, whose name is familiar to Sri Lankan rugby fanatics, having represented Kandy Sports Club too. The team manager is Uthpala Ranatunga.
Their main sponsor is IMM Consultancy in Dubai. ThePapare.com is their media partner for the HSBC Dubai World 7’s tournament.
The tournament will be held on 1st, 2nd and 3rd December at the Sevens stadium in Dubai.
