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| HRH Prince Sultan Bin Faisal Al Saud has rugby close to his heart [AL JAZEERA] |
Not many prop forwards knuckle down in the scrum to find the opposing player is a Saudi prince – but it's becoming a more and more regular experience for rugby players in the Middle East.
The imposing figure of HRH Prince Sultan Bin Faisal Al Saud was minutes away from becoming the first prince to play in the Dubai Rugby Sevens before he sustained a torn ligament in the warmup for his Jeddah side's first match on Friday.
A day on, the 29-year-old royal was ruing the missed opportunity to get stuck into rivals from Jordan and the UAE as his side went out of the Gulf Men's competition courtesy of a failed drop goal attempt in the dying seconds.
High ambitions
But the prince has a bigger picture in mind, aiming to use his influence to get rugby played in Saudi schools and build the foundations of a national team.
"The nature of Saudi kids is that they love physical sports," Prince Sultan told Al Jazeera at The Sevens in the UAE desert.
"It is too late for people like me to play international rugby.
"But with the right coaching in schools, the talent and interest is there, and in three or four years in Saudi Arabia we will, inshallah, have our own national team."
Ahead of a meeting to discuss his plans with the Sports Ministry in Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan is starting the process by helping to build up the Jeddah side he joined after becoming hooked on rugby six months ago.
New kits and funding for the trip to Dubai are just the start, as his Highness joins the club in their ambition to get more Saudis in the ranks.
And if one of their rising stars is anything to go by, untapped potential is just waiting to be unleashed on the rugby world.
Try machine
Fawaz Al Fageeh, 22, is blessed with the sort of pace that makes lightning look lazy – and has used his uncanny turn of speed to score four tries in five games at The Sevens.
One match saw the winger sprint the length of the pitch to drag down an opponent yards from the Jeddah line, grab the ball, and hop out of three challenges to run back down and score at the other end.
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| Al Fageeh, centre front, with Jeddah RFU in Dubai [AL JAZEERA] |
Both Al Fageeh and the prince have found rugby an obsession that is hard to shake.
"I first saw rugby when I was walking on the beach in Fiji and saw people playing," says Prince Sultan.
"I used to support all kinds of sports teams, and I did combat sports in the special security force.
"But as soon as my friend taught me how to pass a rugby ball, I forgot everything about all other kinds of sports. All I can think about is rugby."
While Al Fageeh's speed is perfect for sevens rugby, the 15-a-side version is more suited to Prince Sultan's power in the forward line.
And he can't wait to be back at The Sevens to finally make his debut.
"Those forwards," he says, smacking his fist into his palm. "I will be back for them. Next year."
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