Ali Thompson has quit as Abu Dhabi Saracens head coach just two months after leading the club to the pinnacle of West Asian rugby with a dramatic Gulf Top Six triumph in Doha.
The Scotsman says he has made the decision to step down after only one season in charge “with a heavy heart” but cited spending more time with his young family as the chief reason for his resignation.
Thompson led Sarries to the most successful season in their short history, the club capping a magical campaign by being crowned kings of West Asia in March.
The Al Ghazal outfit beat Doha 26-20 in an epic ARFU West Asia Champion Club final, achieving it the hard way by defeating the Qataris on their own ground.
Sarries were only founded in 2011 and Thompson, a former UAE captain who played six seasons with capital city rivals Harlequins, moved across the city in 2013.
After a season on the pitch, Thompson assumed a player/coach role, overseeing a marked improvement in form – the West Asia Cup triumph arriving after Sarries lost only one game of 10 GT6 fixtures.
“I’ve loved every minute being at Sarries and to finish the season the way we did was the icing on the cake,” Thompson told Sport360.
“I’ve not come to this decision lightly and it’s not been done overnight. It’s all been done amicably although I leave with a heavy heart as
I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time with Sarries as both a player and a coach.”
Thompson revealed that he contacted new Sarries’ chairman and close friend Jay Danielson earlier this week, while he also personally messaged all of his first team squad, informing them of his decision.
Despite a thoroughly enjoyable season, Thompson says his role has required “massive commitment” on his part and he does not want to become an absent father, with sons Finley and Lewis aged just four and two respectively, while he praised understanding wife, Yvonne.
“Fridays are long days with me away but it’s not just games and then training on Mondays and Wednesdays, it’s a massive commitment and a little bit too much with the boys the age they are,” said Thompson, 36.
“Yvonne’s become a bit of a rugby widow so enough’s enough and I want to be there to introduce the boys to the game of rugby, like my father was there for me. I don’t want to become an absent father.”
Thompson, head of biology at the British School Al Khubairat, still intends to coach the Under-18 side at the school, adding that he might get involved in youth coaching, while he has refused to totally rule out a return to Sarries in the future.
“I’m stepping away in a formal capacity but I’ll always be available to help,” insisted Thompson. “I’m not walking away from the club completely and should my personal circumstances change in the future there’s always the possibility that perhaps I could come back.”
Thompson believes he is leaving the club in good hands, although there is no news yet on a successor for the Scot.
“There’s a few irons in the fire but no decision has been made yet,” added Thompson. “There’s been so much reward this season with Sarries and it was important to me to leave the club in good hands.
“Jay is an expectant father so he understands the massive commitments and he was part of the decision making process. They need to move forward and not stagnate, I want them to win more championships.”
