Treble-winning coach Ross Mills cannot wait to get started with “sleeping giants” the Dubai Hurricanes, after his glorious one-year spell at Jebel Ali Dragons was brought to an abrupt end.
Mills, 47, led the Dragons to success in the Dubai Sevens, UAE Premiership and ARFU West Asia Cup last season.
This turned out to be his only campaign at the club, following talks which culminated with a mutual decision to leave at the beginning of June.
With Russ Huxtable also exiting the Hurricanes, this opened a spot Mills was only too happy to fill.
“Both myself and the club decided I had taken the Dragons as far as we could go,” he said. “They wanted me to stay on in a different role, but I wanted to continue coaching.
“It was the combination of a lot of things that came to this decision being made by us both. I have so many fond memories of my time at the Dragons – they are a great club, but so are the Hurricanes.
“It’s not life or death, we draw a line in the sand and now I’m really excited about my move to the Hurricanes. For me, they are sleeping giants.”
The Hurricanes endured indifferent form last term, being defeated in the UAE Premiership final then sinking to a distant fifth in the Gulf Top Six.
Ambitious plans are already under way to improve on that performance.
Between 8-10 new recruits are being targeted, with a number from a background playing at a high standard in Britain and Ireland.
Mills said: “Last year the Hurricanes started really well, then lost their way. They will not do that under me, I will keep it as structured as possible.
“There is so much potential at the Hurricanes. I won’t make any bold predictions, but I am aiming to win one piece of silverware next season. I am very excited by it. Don’t forget the Hurricanes made it to the Premiership final, so there isn’t that much that needs to change.”
