Pakistan is set to host the UAE team in a two-match series in Lahore. The matches will be held at the iconic Punjab Stadium on July 4th and 8th. The Punjab Stadium hosted the Asia Rugby Men’s Division 2 last year, where Pakistan emerged victorious over Thailand, securing promotion to Division 1.
Currently ranked 91 in the World Rugby ranking, Pakistan will face the UAE side, who are ranked 62. The UAE team will be returning to fifteens rugby after a three-year hiatus, following their promotion from Division 2 in 2019. In the semi-final, they convincingly defeated Guam 82-7, and in the final, they triumphed over Thailand with a scoreline of 50-12 at the True Arena in Hua Hin, Thailand.
The UAE team is coached by Apollo Perelini, who has been instrumental in improving the performance of UAE teams across all levels. He also holds the position of Executive Director at the UAE Rugby Federation.
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Pakistan will witness the return of coach Gert Mulder from South Africa. Last year, Mulder played a pivotal role in transforming the Pakistan team, helping them secure a victory against the higher-ranked Thailand team. Alongside Mulder, Rizwan Malik, the former head coach, and six assistant coaches are working together to learn from his expertise.
Asia Rugby remains steadfast in its commitment to providing live coverage of all its tournaments on its Facebook and YouTube platforms. Moreover, the Pakistan Rugby Union has successfully secured live broadcasting rights on PTV Sports HD, a 24-hour sports channel owned by Pakistan Television Corporation, the country’s state broadcaster. This achievement expands the reach and accessibility of rugby to fans in Pakistan and around the world.
Pakistan v UAE
Asia Rugby Men’s Division 1 Championship
🏆 Game 1
4th July 2023
20:30 (+5 GMT)
Live https://youtube.com/live/QaJNmsJJK8I
🏆 Game 2
8th July 2023
19:30 (+5 GMT)
Live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7_rvumfFR0
