Dragons can seal play-off berth with victory against Dubai Hurricanes

Matt Jones - Editor 01:33 09/03/2017
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  • Jebel Ali Dragons insist they and the rest of the league will not treat Abu Dhabi Harlequins as rightful West Asia Premiership champions unless they lift the trophy on March 31.

    The landscape of the domestic rugby season was dramatically altered earlier this month when it was discovered the Premiership had been played on a league format all season as opposed to a play-offs and final structure like previous campaigns.

    With all teams vying for the Premiership’s top four play-off spots in a bid to become the 2016/17 champion, it was overlooked that the play-offs are actually for the end-of-season West Asia Cup and Trophy competitions.

    This was confirmed by Asia Rugby’s Ghaith Jalajel, while the UAE Rugby Federation hastily revamped their fixtures schedule to confirm that March 31 will play host to the final of the Cup and Trophy rather than the Premiership final as first believed.

    Rule 4.1.2 of the WAP competition rules, published in September last year, state the Premiership is played over 14 rounds, home and away. Quins’ 47-7 victory over Dragons on February 24 gave them an unassailable lead at the top of the table.

    No-one was aware of this fact – least of all champions Quins – apart from Bahrain, who pointed it out to their UAE rivals.

    It has left a bitter taste in the mouths of their opponents, including Dragons, who claim the true champions will still be determined by the play-offs.

    Asked if the atmosphere surrounding the Jebel Ali Centre of Excellence at training ahead of tonight’s game with Dubai Hurricanes had fallen flat in the wake of the revelation, Dragons skipper Ross Samson said: “No, not at all. It’s never flat when we have a local derby.

    “We are aiming to get to the play-offs and then take things from there. Well done to Quins on winning whatever it was that they won the other week, but the real winner is whoever wins the play-off final, we all know that.”

    Dragons and Quins are already assured of meeting in the UAE Premiership final on April 7 but Jebel Ali director of rugby, Paul Hart, believes all teams will still treat the West Asia Cup winners as the true Premiership champions.

    “This is a huge game for us. Win and we get our spot in the top four and plays-offs,” said UAE international Hart of tonight’s clash with Canes.

    “We feel that the winner of the (West Asia Cup) final on March 31 are the champions. I think that is the way all teams have seen it all season, so no change in mind set from us.

    “I am not taking anything away from the great season Quins are having, but I know Quins very well and they won’t be happy being given an unexpected title and then losing in the play-offs.”

    As for Canes, having been left deflated following a run of five straight defeats, coach Mike Wernham insists the prospect of winning the West Asia Trophy has injected a little bit of life into the tail end of their campaign.

    “We’ve been disappointed with the ends of our last few games, where we could have gotten more from them,” Wernham said ahead of today’s Dubai derby.

    “The lads are hurting and hopefully we can sort this out. There’s more to play for with the restructure of the tournament, there’s an extra motivation and you can see that in training this week.

    “It’s important to use this game knowing we’ve got more to play for so we’re hoping to take a step forward. Dragons have a lot to play for and they’re in a position where we want to be.”

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