The men's national sevens rugby team is intensifying its training ahead of the Asia Championship – UAE Cup 2026 for West and Central Asia zones, which the Eila Oasis in Aqaba will host on November 6 and 7, with 14 teams from nine Asian countries taking part.
اضافة اعلان
The team will compete alongside Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan. Five teams will take part in the women's competition: Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.
National team coach Ahmad Hamoukah said the coaching staff designed an intensive three-month preparation program, with 12 training sessions a week, covering skills, tactics and fitness, aimed at raising fitness levels and strengthening technical readiness before the tournament.
He explained that the program faced challenges, most notably the lack of a grass pitch, which forced the team to hold most of its training on artificial grass. The team was able to hold one session on a grass pitch in the Jawa area, he said, noting that this created additional difficulties in limiting injuries.
Hamoukah added that the coaching staff widened the pool of players during the preparation period, praising their commitment and discipline. He said the initial squad of 24 players will be announced 72 hours before the tournament begins.
Player Ismail Janbak said Jordan's hosting of the tournament for the first time gives the players extra motivation to perform at a level worthy of the occasion and to compete for the top places. He called on fans to attend the matches and support the team in Aqaba.
Aziz Abu Khalaf, secretary general of the Jordan Rugby Federation, said the federation has increased national teams' participation in Asian and European tournaments to create more opportunities for competition and experience. He affirmed that the team is preparing to compete for the title, benefiting from hosting the championship on home soil.
Abu Khalaf noted that the federation is working to provide the preparation requirements and expressed his confidence in the coaching staff and its ability to lead the team in this event.
