Jordan intends to use home advantage to its favour at local tournament

AMMAN — Jordan has sent out a strong message to the big guns coming into town for this weekend’s third Arab Rugby 7s to be hosted in Amman that it intends to make home advantage pay off, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service. 

Jordan has been drawn in a tough Group A alongside the UAE, Iraq and Libya, with Group B including Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt and Palestine.

It is the biggest rugby tournament the Kingdom has ever hosted and Jordan intends to put on a strong show for the big crowds expected to watch at the Petra University pitch.

“All the preparations are complete so we are looking forward to making it the most successful edition of this event to date,” said Zu’bi Al Zu’bi, the secretary general of the Jordan Rugby Association.

“The sport is growing nicely here so a strong showing from Jordan this weekend will help us to promote it further.” Jordan, who has been training under English head coach Graeme Forbes, will meet Libya in its opener on Friday morning and then both the UAE and Iraq later in the day.

Depending on results, it will dictate on who Jordan plays on Saturday for the knock out stages. The two previous editions were held in Egypt and Morocco.