The Arabian Gulf Men’s Rugby team travel to Kazakhstan on Thursday for their last match in the inaugural HSBC Asian Five Nations.

The winner of the all important clash on Saturday in Taldykorgan will remain in the top tier of the trailblazing competition with the loser dropping down to Division One for 2009. The Gulf had the benefit of the bye last week and have had two weeks of uninterrupted preparation leading up to Saturday’s vital encounter at Zhetysu Stadium in the main province of Almaty.

Backline Bolstered

Despite having played three internationals in less than a month the Gulf side has surprisingly managed to go into its last match with a very low injury rate and on paper looks to be the strongest team list named so far. The forward pack that competed so well against Korea remains intact and while a number of players are carrying slight injuries all will take their place in the team when the squad flies out on Thursday morning.

In the backs Marcus Smith possibly the best player in the Gulf region makes a comeback in the midfield after missing the last two Tests while surprise inclusion James Tometzki gets the nod to join the squad after a speedier than expected recovery from knee surgery. Tometzki has had limited club play this season but has trained strongly with the squad over recent weeks and adds an exciting attacking option to go with his reliable goal kicking.

The team is:
Mike Riley (Dubai Exiles)
 Fain Ferguson (Dubai Dragons)                              
 Mike McKnight (Doha RFC)                                    
 Mark Gathercole (Dubai Exiles)
Vivian Albertyn (Dubai Dragons)
 Diarmuid O’Malley - Captain (Dubai Dragons)
 Steve Huber (Dubai Hurricanes)
 Rory Power (Bahrain RFC)
 Karl Sutcliffe (Muscat RFC)
 Ed Nicholas (Dubai Exiles)
 
Dave Clark (Dubai Exiles)
Sean Hurley (Dubai Dragons)
 Paul Beard (Dubai Exiles)
 Ayman Razek (Gulf Sevens)
 Stephen Cooper – Vice Captain (Dubai Exiles)
 Jo Czerpak (Abu Dhabi RUFC)
 Francois Coetzer (Dubai Exiles)
 Stuart Gibb (Dubai Dragons) Pending Fitness Test
 James Tometzki (Dubai Hurricanes)
 Jonathon Brookes (Dubai Exiles)
 Mark Simon (Abu Dhabi RUFC)
 Marcus Smith(Dubai Exiles)
Stand-By: Wayne Esselmont
 Coaches:           Wayne Marsters / Steve Holohan.
 Manager:           Martin Southern           
 Physio:              Lacey Congram  

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