Dubai Exiles centre Justin Walsh is sure the club’s rapid rise under supremo Jacques Benade will continue when the West Asia Championship gets under way.
The summer introduction of the director of rugby has elicited a dramatic upturn in fortunes, with the Exiles rising from UAE Premiership strugglers to second place in the 2015 standings at the end of the first stage.
The new format for the Middle East’s elite 15-a-side competition puts them in the reckoning. They begin with tomorrow’s visit of Gulf Premiership also-rans Muscat to The Sevens and UAE back Walsh expects this to be the start of a push for regional glory under the South African boss.
He said: “Jacques has provided a big change within the club which the players have all responded well to. He has a very effective system which he has been applying to the team and the results of his coaching and systems have been shown in our position in the table.
“It is a very fast and physical style of play and we have the right calibre of players to be able to play good rugby at the moment. We will take each game as it comes and hope that the hard work will continue to pay off.
“Muscat is our first game since the Dubai Sevens and first after the festive break, so we are aiming to hit the ground running and put a marker down for the remainder of the season.”
