Rugby clubs in the UAE have been issued with a 27-page document of return to play safety guidelines.
The UAE Rugby Federation called a halt to the domestic rugby season back at the start of March, just before its finals days could take place.
At the end of May, rugby was among the sports given a brief advisory on what was permitted when the Dubai Sports Council announced the re-opening of sports after the coronavirus outbreak.
That included group coaching with a maximum of 10 participants per session, as well as “no spitting on the ground”, and players being required to bring their own equipment.
With clubs now beginning their preparations for the new season – which is hoped to start at the end of September – the federation have marked out a detailed list of protocols to follow.
“The guidance provided should be considered mandatory for UAE rugby clubs and national teams, and advisory for school rugby who should also be guided by their governing bodies,” the federation said.
“The return to activity should be no more than 50 per cent of normal capacity, with sessions not to exceed 60 minutes.
“We will aim to update within 30 days when we can move to the next phase which eases the participation levels and give more chance to players’ performance progression.”
The guidelines have been created by the UAERF Medical Committee, which is headed by Dr Alan Kourie, who was formerly part of the South Africa national team's medical staff, as well as the Natal Sharks Super Rugby franchise.
They match the general Covid medical guidelines, but with rugby-specific details such as mouthguards only being removed during water and sanitisation breaks at training sessions, and players showering at home.
The players also “must not blow their nose on the field – tissues will be provided at specific stations at the side of the field,” according to the guidelines.
“Masks will be worn by all attendees at training sessions, except where practically not possible, for example when exercising at high intensity,” the report says.
“For ease of reference, this can be considered as exercise that results in sustained heavy breathing to a point where it becomes challenging for the athlete to breathe comfortably were a mask to be worn.
“It is advisable that a medical waste bin be provided at the training venue, in close proximity to the training area, for masks to be disposed of correctly.
“While the UAE’s Covid prevention measures remain in place, all non-playing staff present at rugby training/matches should be wearing a mask at all times.”
The protocols also say rugby balls should be sanitised “as often as possible,” ideally at the same time as water and sanitisation breaks every 15 minutes during a training session, which matches guidelines for training in the heat.
“There should be 2-3 sanitization stations depending on the number of groups training, where players can take water from their own water bottles and can sanitise their own hands,” the report states.
“Social distancing should continue to be strictly adhered to at these times.
“The training balls can be sanitised during this time. Balls will again be sanitised pre- and post-training.
“There must be no physical contact at any time, including with greetings, except during contact training and matches (when this has been officially sanctioned).
“Rest times should adhere to the two-metre social distancing rules. Breaks in practice or play are seen as rest times.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Australia men's Test cricket fixtures 2021/22
One-off Test v Afghanistan:
Nov 27-Dec 1: Blundstone Arena, Hobart
The Ashes v England:
Dec 8-12: 1st Test, Gabba, Brisbane
Dec 16-20: 2nd Test, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (day/night)
Dec 26-30: 3rd Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Jan 5-9, 2022: 4th Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Jan 14-18: 5th Test, Optus Stadium, Perth
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
MATCH INFO
RB Leipzig 2 (Klostermann 24', Schick 68')
Hertha Berlin 2 (Grujic 9', Piatek 82' pen)
Man of the match Matheus Cunha (Hertha Berlin
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
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Engine: 3.7-litre V6
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Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
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- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Sunday's fixtures
- Bournemouth v Southampton, 5.30pm
- Manchester City v West Ham United, 8pm
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
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How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
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Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
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6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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