Inspiring start in 2019 for rugby in Kuwait

2019 has begun in an inspiring way with the positive steps from within Asia Rugby continuing.

On 12 Jan a World Rugby Level 1 Coaching Course took place in Kuwait with 20 participants taking part in this ground breaking event.

It was the first time a coaching course was held inside Kuwait and members of both the Kuwait Saracens and Kuwait Scorpions rugby clubs were in attendance.

The course provided the opportunity for the rugby community in Kuwait to improve and align their skills with World Rugby best practises.

Husain Al-Helal, who coaches and plays for the Scorpions, was delighted with the success of the course and hopes it will continue to help develop the game in Kuwait.

With a recently refurbished rugby facility in Ahmadi Park, a first technical partnership and the introduction of GPS devices to help the coaches gain actionable insights into their training sessions the steps being taken are positive. But it doesn’t stop there.

“Outside of adult rugby, our club also helps introduce the youth to rugby, and to run a course like this helps us to continue to develop,” said Al-Helal.

“Another first for the 2018/19 season was the introduction of the 6-a-side flag rugby league, and we also had a successful time at the Dubai 7s in December. Another key milestone for this season is the return of the vets team after several years.”

One of the biggest challenges facing Al-Helal is retention and recruitment of players with rugby having little or no presence in the mainstream media.

But the work that is being done by Al-Helal and the learnings from the course will hopefully ensure rugby becomes embedded in Kuwait.

Kuwait rugby was established in 1946 when the British Oilfield workers played the first game against the British Armed Forces stationed in Kuwait. Photo Credit: Kuwait Oil Company archives

“We hope to continue to grow the rugby community in Kuwait,” added Al-Helal.

“Thanks to Asia Rugby and Ben Van Rooyen and the World Rugby Level 1 Coaching Course I believe we started 2019 in such a positive manner.

“The adult and youth rugby community in Kuwait has never been so close and I am determined to see it succeed.

“Rugby for me has provided me vital life lessons that cannot be taught in textbooks. It is a community of like minded, positive people always willing to help and since settling back into Kuwait in 2011 it has been my goal to provide the same sense of community that I was privileged to experience.”