GARY Broadbent is preparing for a new challenge as him and several other Cumbrian players join the Bulldogs International Rugby team for their annual trip to Dubai.

The ex-Barrow Raiders full-back will be joined by some other familiar faces in Jamie Marshall and Carl Sice, plus Askam amateur Tom Butler, in the squad for the Emirates International Veterans 10-a-side competition, which is played in the build-up to the annual Dubai Sevens tournament.

Not only will be it be a case of dusting off the boots for one of the first times since he retired for Broadbent but it will also be a switch in codes for him and his fellow Bulldogs squad members due to this being a rugby union event.

The Bulldogs – previously sanctioned by BARLA – have been regulars in the over-35s competition since 2009 though, regularly reaching the knock-out stages, and Broadbent is relishing the prospect of taking part in a long-established event.

“It's a while since I've played any contact sport, other than playing in the Walney Origin game,” said Broadbent. “Other than that, it's more biking and running, and no contact sport now.

“To jump back into that for a week, I'm looking forward to it - especially to go out there with the rest of the lads.

“I've been out there twice on holiday and loved it each time, so from what I gather and from speaking to people who have been before to play rugby out there for that event, they say it's really, really good.

“It will be different playing union; I've never played it, I've watched it on television and we had a warm-up game in September against some lads from Leeds, which went all right. Other than that, it is just a few training sessions and trying to pick stuff up.”

The Bulldogs, who will be coached by recently-departed Keighley Cougars head coach Paul March, head out to Dubai on Monday, and have been drawn to face teams from as far afield as Iran, Moscow and Wales in their group.

Having five fewer players on a full-size union pitch means plenty of opportunity and space to attack, but Broadbent's main concern is adapting to the different rules, along with having to remember not to get up and play the ball after being tackled or retreat back into the defensive line.

“It'll be different not having to get back 10 yards to the referee each time, so it'll be a bit of a learning curve trying to do that rather than making a tackle and then having to run back 10 yards,” said Broadbent.

“That should be a bit easier having to retreat 10 yards and get back up 10 yards - not that I ever did at full-back!

“I think the biggest thing is just the technical side; it's a completely different set of rules and just trying to get your head around that, but at the end of the day, it's still about catch, pass and running with the ball.

“It'll be on a full pitch with fewer players, so there will be more space and room to attack, so it should be good and I'm really looking forward to it.”

The 10s competition is held as a warm-up event for the Dubai Sevens, which will see the elite teams on the World Rugby sevens circuit battling it out for glory – including many of the stars from the Fiji team who claimed gold in the sport at this summer's Rio Olympics.

“I watched it at the Olympics and I though it was fascinating,” said Broadbent. “It's a really eye-catch sport and the Olympics has put it right up there. To be able to see those stars on show, it will be a good atmosphere and a good thing to do.

“It just goes to show, you don't have to be 20-odd to still be playing and these sevens events which go around the world are a fantastic showcase. I'm sure anyone who gets to play in curtain raisers or be a part of that finds it a fantastic opportunity.”

There is a serious side to the Bulldogs participating in the Dubai tournament, with the aim being to help raise money for prostate cancer charities as well as perform well on the field.

But what about having the chance to show the union players what rugby league is all about as well?

“There is that bit in it, but I'm sure the union boys will be thinking they can teach us a few things,” said Broadbent. “That will be interesting, but we'll just have to wait and see how it goes.”