With the UAE rugby scene rapidly growing in popularity, Sport360° decided that it was time to learn a bit more about the players lighting up the Gulf Top Six this season.
This week we spoke to Jebel Ali Dragons fly-half Murray Strang about his favourite childhood memory of rugby and who playing the sport inspires him.
Murray Strang
Height: 6ft 3in
Weight: 95kg
Position: Fly-half
Age: 32
Born: Glasgow, Scotland
Years in UAE: 5–and-a-half
Honours: Hat-trick of Premiership 1 trophies with Glasgow hawks. Won everything out here at least once, with the Dubai Sevens a nice way to finish off the collection this season.
UAE Caps: 5
Favourite childhood memory of rugby: The Scotland Grand Slam victory in 1990.
Favourite player growing up: Tommy Hayes, a cook Islander who played No10 for Glasgow.
Rugby team you support: Glasgow Warriors and Scotland.
Best international player at the moment and why: He’s possibly not the most likeable character, but Danny care keeps the england side moving.
Rule you would change and why: Make the scrums simpler so the game moves quicker.
Best game you have seen: Has to be Scotland beating France in Paris in 1995 for the first time in 26 years.
Toughest opponent in UAE rugby: Clendon Penny from abu Dhabi Saracens. he is a wrecking ball, who loves contact.
Funniest moment in my career: Watching tiny Imad Reyal weave his way through the whole Samoa team for the UAE, teaching them how to play Sevens!