2026 New Year Chairmans Message

Dear Players, Coaches, Referees, Volunteers, and Friends of Oman Rugby,

As we welcome a new year, I would like to extend my sincere thanks and warmest wishes to every member of the Oman Rugby community. Your passion, commitment, and belief in the game continue to shape rugby in the Sultanate, both on and off the field.

This past year has given us many moments to reflect on with pride. 

One such highlight was the Oman Touch 6s tournament, held under floodlights at The Sultan’s School. The atmosphere, energy, and spirit on display demonstrated not only the growth of touch rugby in Oman, but also the sense of community that makes our sport so special.

We also marked an important milestone with the renewal of Oman Rugby under the Ministry of Sports, following 4 years of existence. It has not always been an easy journey. We missed some goals along the way, but we also achieved many things we had never imagined when we first began. This renewal represents renewed confidence in our direction and a strong foundation for the future of rugby in Oman.

However, the standout achievement was hosting the Asia Rugby Emirates 7s Trophy. By all accounts, from participating teams, to member unions, this was one of the best-run sevens tournaments in Asia. This success was only possible because of the tireless efforts of our volunteers, officials, referees, coaches, and support staff, who worked together to showcase Oman as a capable and welcoming rugby host.

This tournament also sparked a defining milestone for Oman Rugby with the formation of our first-ever Omani Men’s National Rugby Sevens team. Starting from a near-zero base of 7s players, we identified and invited athletes to a set of contact preparation sessions, established our standards, roles, and weekly training structures, and introduced the fundamentals of modern 7s—skills, conditioning, game understanding, and team culture. 

The results were clear. From being ranked 36th out of 36 countries in Asia, Oman ended up 27th. But beyond performance, the squad became a symbol of national pride and a clear pathway for players, laying foundations for sustainable national team programmes in the years ahead.

This year also highlighted the importance of player welfare. During the Muscat 6s, a player suffered a cardiac arrest, but thanks to the immediate response of FAIR (First Aid in Rugby) trained personnel and the rapid use of an AED, (Automated External Defibrillator) his life was saved. We are grateful that he has made a full recovery and wish him and his family all the best. 

This incident reinforced the importance of the World rugby minimum first aid requirements and has led to a review of our medical and safety standards, including our commitment to improving AED availability across clubs.

As we look ahead, let us carry forward the lessons, momentum, and unity built over the past year. Together, we will continue to grow the game, develop our people, and represent Oman Rugby with pride, integrity, and ambition.

We are still constrained by limited resources, staffing, and finances, but not by our vision or ambition. Buoyed on by the positive international reaction to Oman hosting the Asia Rugby Emirates 7s Trophy, we are looking forward to hosting more Asia Rugby tournaments, to capitalise on what we started. 

Looking further forward, with an eye on the 2028 Touch World Cup and the 2032 Olympics, we plan to start age grade teams, developing the players for our future national teams. And after a few false starts, a women’s program.

Within all of these goals, there is plenty of room for anyone willing to get involved, so please don’t hesitate to offer, and thank you for everything you do for rugby in Oman. I wish you and your families a happy, healthy, and successful New Year.

Yours in rugby,

Nabil Al Busaidi

ChairmanOman Rugby