The fastest growing sport in the UAE

18 Feb 2013 @ 10:04 UTC

The fastest growing sport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Touch, made its debut on the Abu Dhabi Schools fixture recently with the commencement of the Abu Dhabi Schools Touch Super Series. This competition will run for 10-weeks every Monday afternoon from 21st January.

The fastest growing sport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Touch, made its debut on the Abu Dhabi Schools fixture recently with the commencement of the Abu Dhabi Schools Touch Super Series. This competition will run for 10-weeks every Monday afternoon from 21st January.

In partnership with Al Yasmina College who will host the tournament each week, twenty teams representing more than 10 different schools will play a series of short games with points contributing to an overall score at the end of the season.

It may surprise many to learn that Touch is now a very popular sport in the Emirates and is a great sport for those children who want to keep fit and improve skills for a variety of sports including basketball and football. Many schools in Abu Dhabi have benefited from the training sessions (both in-school and after-school clinics) including Al Yasmina, Al Muna, Brighton College and Abu Dhabi Grammar.

President of UAE Touch, John Larkins, has said the interest has been overwhelming and that children are quick to pick up the game and keen to take it to the next level. "This initial competition is designed to help the students to learn the basic rules and obtain playing skills to make them more confident to take the field," says Larkins.

"Students of all skill levels will be catered for and those who have never tried touch are encouraged to attend."

Larkins encourages all children and parents who may be interested to come and give it a go. "Touch rugby is a great way to get fit, to get children playing with their parents and to introduce our children to a fast and growing sport and help them to lead an active & healthy lifestyle", he says.

For more information on Touch in the Emirates, please visit the UAE Touch website www.uaetouch.ae , follow them on Twitter: @uaetouch or Facebook: www.facebook.com/UaeTouch, or simply contact John Larkins direct at [email protected]

Related articles