Oman concluded its participation in the Touch Rugby World Cup in the United Kingdom with one victory in eight matches. The team displayed remarkable performance against world-class teams, securing 16th place globally and establishing Oman’s name among the top touch rugby teams.
Nabil bin Riyadh al Busaidy, head of Oman Rugby Association, said, “Yes, the rugby team and the Rugby Federation have made significant progress. Just three years ago, there was no federation, and now we are in the World Cup. The team is improving everyday and with every match. They have learned from their mistakes and analysed their performance, and in each subsequent match, they performed better. This amazing gradual improvement is all we can ask for and is a testament to the team’s commitment and dedication.”
Al Busaidy said “We are not aiming to win the World Cup on our first try, we are focused on improving our performance day by day. I cannot ask for more, and that is what is happening. After the World Cup, we want to maintain the momentum and continue to grow even bigger. The main goal for us is to expand the player base, so we need to increase the number of people playing rugby in Oman. We want rugby to become part of the sporting culture in our country. Our next goal is to launch a youth development programme. We will go to schools and teach children aged seven and eighteen how to play rugby, and then identify the best players and integrate them into a high-performance programme that will allow them to develop their skills and compete at a high level.”
Coach Brian echoed the sentiment, “The players delivered a strong and distinguished performance during the Touch Rugby World Cup. The team has been playing together for less than a year, and one player has only been playing for seven months. Despite this, they put on a remarkable performance on the world stage in front of large crowds that came to watch us, and they are very excited about what Oman has achieved. This excitement is not just from Omani fans, but from everyone who watches us around the world.”
Brian elaborated, “For this team, the World Cup is a building and growth phase. We need to engage others, as these players are the role models for rugby in Oman. We want the younger ones to play, and we want to get the school programme off the ground to be a strong foundation for the sport in Oman, giving children the opportunity to develop their skills and excel in this sport.”
Regarding the tournament, Brian said, “Our performance improved noticeably in each match. We learned a lot from playing against elite teams with extensive resources and training. We didn’t score many goals, but we put on a great performance and showed everyone what can be achieved in the first eight months of the programme’s launch. Now, if we have another four years, some of these teams should feel scared when we come back, because we will showcase amazing talent, be much stronger, and achieve incredible results.”
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