UAE Rugby appoints Sharks UAE Rugby Academy Manager

Botha, a South African national, has a strong rugby background having held coaching and administration roles in the Durban area and most recently in Maritzburg College and has long associations with South African Provincial and Schools Rugby programmes.

Commencing in February of 2013 The Sharks UAE Rugby Academy will offer ambitious under 15 and under 18 players the opportunity to train and develop the core skills of the game through the Academy's high-performance programmes, franchised from the world famous 'The Sharks Academy' in Durban.

Operating in three venues - Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and Dubai - the Academy's reach is integral to the development of the future generation of UAE Rugby's National 7's and XV's player-pool.

The Academy will offer two terms, per season, as well as holiday camps and various regional and international rugby tours.

Mohammed Falaknaz, Chairman of UAERF, commented, "We are very pleased to welcome Steve to the UAE and to our organisation. His background, in understanding and delivering an Academy programme, will be a strong asset to UAE Rugby."