Israel and UAE play first ever rugby match between the two nations

Israel and the UAE have played their first every rugby match. The friendly game in Dubai last Friday was named ‘Abraham Accord Friendship Cup’ after the normalisation agreement between the two countries.

Israel won 33 to 0. The teams that played a second match including player mixed from both nations.

In pictures: Friendship is the winner in UAE-Israel rugby match⁣⁣⁣
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The #UAE and #Israel rugby teams play an exhibition match at the Dubai Sports City on Friday.⁣

📸Shihab/KT
⁣⁣⁣ pic.twitter.com/FPIIDsoYEI

— Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) March 20, 2021

Congratulating the teams in a video message, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin praised the “wonderful expression of the new spirit of people-to-people peace following the historic Abraham Accords.

“While leaders may sign peace agreements, true peace requires people on both sides to build bonds of friendship and cooperation in every arena.”

اتحاد الرجبي يشكر رؤوفين ريفلين رئيس #إسرائيل على رسالته التي وجهها بمناسبة اللقاء الودي بين المنتخبين الإماراتي والإسرائيلي في #دبي وأكد فيها أن رياضة الرجبي تجمع الشعوب وتنشر المحبة والسلام pic.twitter.com/om7jjagGiW

— الاتحاد الرياضي (@alittihadSport) March 19, 2021

The president of the Israeli Rugby Association, Ofer Fabian, told Kan news: “We were met with a great desire to come together [from the Emirati side]. As far as we’re concerned this should turn into an annual thing, and of course they want to come to Israel.”

The Israeli team stayed in Dubai to celebrate and held an outdoor Shabbat ceremony captured by Khaleej Times writer Michal Divon.

UAE – Israel play a historic friendly rugby 🏉 game in Dubai – WAM #AbrahamAccords 🇦🇪🇮🇱https://t.co/LIAuzIKO9E pic.twitter.com/jzQKC5EMfm

— حسن سجواني 🇦🇪 Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) March 21, 2021

Kiddush and breaking bread after the first Israel-UAE rugby game 🇮🇱🇦🇪 #ShabbatShalom #AbrahamAccords pic.twitter.com/rmxpXgyyrS

— Michal Divon (@michaldivon) March 19, 2021