UAE head coach on what makes Kenyan rugby unique
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 29.05.25. | 22:00
These sentiments followed his side’s 54-24 loss to Kenya Simbas in a friendly held on Saturday, 24 May at the RFUEA Grounds
United Arab Emirates (UAE) 15s men's rugby head coach Apollo Perelini has hailed Kenya’s rugby program for its unmatched depth and competitive spirit.
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These sentiments followed his side’s 54-24 loss to Kenya Simbas in a friendly held on Saturday, 24 May at the RFUEA Grounds.
In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, Perelini, who has led the UAE national team since 2015, said the Kenyan side demonstrated a level of player depth that is rare to come by, especially in comparison to Gulf nations.
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During the high-scoring fixture, the Simbas fielded different sets of players for each segment of the match.
That rotation maintained dominance throughout. The final segment saw Kenya pull away comfortably, sealing a statement victory over the visitors.
“What is nice about the Kenyan team is that they have got a lot of depth. You got three strong teams," he offered.
“We do not have that depth. This is all we have got, and our other players are not good enough to play compared to Kenya.
It is good for a country to have so much depth, and everybody chasing each other," he continued.
The former Samoa international believes such internal competition is a powerful driver for excellence and growth in any national setup.
Perelini is no stranger to high-performance rugby. In 1995, he made history by becoming the first Samoan player to feature in both the Rugby Union and Rugby League World Cups.
He switched codes and represented Samoa in the Rugby League edition just four years after his Union debut.
“It was very seamless. I was in the rugby union before, went to rugby league, then came back to rugby union. The challenge was the intensity level. It depends on how hard you want to push yourself and work hard," he averred.
Now a seasoned coach, Perelini is channelling those lessons into his mentoring style.
“I always tell the players that if you want to do it, then it's you, and no one else can do it for you. If you want to do well in life and in everything, you have to work hard. Nothing comes easy," he advised.
He described his current coaching approach as more measured than his playing days.
“I am more patient. When I was young and still playing, I wanted to try out new things. Nowadays, as a coach, I am very patient with players. I want them to take their time and establish their own goals," he said.
Perelini’s playing days also included a memorable stint with English side Sale Sharks, where his powerful displays in the Premiership left a lasting impression, particularly among fans in the north of England.
Today, he watches from the sidelines, but the fire still burns.
