The United Arab Emirates national rugby union team have taken a significant step towards qualifying for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, following a dramatic 38-36 victory over South Korea in the second round of the Asian qualifiers.

The match, held on Saturday in Seoul, proved to be a fiercely contested affair, with both sides level at 21-21 at half-time. However, the UAE managed to edge ahead in the closing stages, sealing a two-point win that keeps their qualification hopes alive.

Final Qualifier Set for Colombo

The UAE will now turn their attention to a decisive third-round clash against Sri Lanka on 4 July in Colombo. Victory in that fixture could see them top the table and secure automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup.

Should they finish second, the UAE would still have another opportunity to qualify via the final qualification play-off, which is scheduled to take place in Dubai from 8 to 18 November.

This result marks a pivotal moment for UAE rugby, as they aim to make history by qualifying for their first-ever Rugby World Cup.