Dubai born and bred Sole is a familiar face at Exiles

Matt Jones - Editor 23:59 11/10/2016
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  • Michael Sole in action during pre-season against Harlequins.

    The 23-year-old was born and raised in the UAE and returned to the Emirates this season after several years away learning the game in both the southern and northern hemisphere.

    He attended high school in Australia and university in Wales but now he’s back and hoping to propel his new/old club to further greatness after claiming a fabulous West Asia Championship and UAE Premiership double last season.

    “I’m kind of a new, old boy at Exiles but it feels good to be back,” admitted centre Sole, who returned to Dubai to work as a nutritionist.

    Much has changed at his boyhood club since Sole has been away. As a youngster he recalls playing and training at the club’s old Al Awir ground [now Meydan Racecourse], while the senior side are now the team to beat after a return to prominence in 2015/16.

    “There’s a bit of a difference in location to where I played when I was younger. I had a season with the first team a few years ago but unfortunately I injured my knee so I only played half a season. It’s great to be back permanently now with a long season ahead,” he said.

    Sole studied at The Southport School and All Saints on Australia’s Gold Coast before heading to Wales to study sports biomedicine and nutrition at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

    He added: “This is home for me though. I was born here, my family are still here, mum, dad and my sister, everyone’s here, so it’s nice to be back.

    “A lot of people born here will go off for school or uni, but they’ll come back here because their families are still here. During holidays I would always come back here, it was strange. It’s a bit different of course.

    “People think it’s all glamorous, and it is, but for me it was always just going back home. It’s just the weather’s a bit better, and it’s nicer than the UK at Christmas time when it’s warm and not cold.”

    Sole has featured prominently in the first weeks of the new rugby season. He was hugely impressive in the 23-23 draw with Abu Dhabi Harlequins in the curtain-raising Asia Rugby Western Clubs Champions League tournament.

    He was injured in defeat when the two UAE heavyweights clashed again in the second round of the West Asia Premiership a few weeks ago, but he’s excited to be part of a new era at Exiles.

    “There’s very much a change in environment surrounding the club,” admitted Sole, who’s fulfilling a family legacy by playing for Exiles this season. Dad Tony also played for the club during the 1990s and still plays for the vets team.

    “There’s a lot more professionalism around the club,” he added. “I know we had a good year last year but everyone’s fired up to go better this year and get the Dubai Sevens title too. We want to win that and defend the other two. I’m really looking forward to the Sevens this season.

    “Starting the season with Exiles definitely feels like coming home. It’s nice to have dad down here too, it brings back a few memories, just in a different location. The club is going strong again and I think it will be an important year for the club.

    “There’s a good mood at the club, it’s competitive. Players are fighting for positions week in week out. People are eager for a starting spot and II think we will gel together

    “It’s nice to play under Jacques [Benade, head coach], someone who brings a lot of structure. I’ve done a few good things early in the season but there’s still a lot I’ve got to work on.”

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