Mike McFarlane is facing the biggest challenge of his four-year tenure in charge of Abu Dhabi Harlequins, but neither coach nor his players are backing down.
The task at hand for Quins is stark, trying to remain competitive or even relevant amid a raft of departures and financial instability over the course of the last 12 months.
Lynchpin Ben Bolger was lost to enforced retirement on the eve of the 2017/19 season, while star players Willie Umu, Brian Geraghty and Patrick Jenkinson departed for pastures new.
Quins suffered but were still fighting on all fronts for silverware last season – thanks in part to their tremendous club culture and “one club” ethos instilled by McFarlane since he took on the reins from Jeremy Manning in the summer of 2015.
But more goodbyes and retirements over the course of the summer have rocked Quins further, and their famed resolve will be severely tested in 2018/19.
Repeated concussions forced Ben Bolger to retire last season.
“We know each game will be a big battle and we will take each one as they come, planning carefully and going through our meticulous processes to give the players the best chance of performing on the day,” said McFarlane.
This summer has seen long-time club captain Phil Abraham hang up his boots as well as UAE stalwart Phil Brady.
Pieter Kilian, Alfred Ries, Tom Brown, Gerrit Visser, Jona Marshall and Joe Teasdale are also among the departures from Zayed Sports City.
But fears that Quins may completely fall away from any discussion involving silverware were allayed in recent weeks as they thrashed Sri Lankan champions Kandy 57-7 in the Asia Rugby Western Clubs Champions League encounter in early September.
They lost in the showdown with Bahrain last weekend, although the meagre six-point gap in the scoreline suggests Quins will still be there or thereabouts this season.
First up for Quins is a repeat of last week’s contest with Bahrain as they welcome the West Asia Cup winners to the UAE capital on Friday for the West Asia Premiership opener.
Mike McFarlane (r) celebrates winning the UAE Premiership, Quins’ fifth and final trophy of a stunning 2016/17.
Louie Tonkin’s side won 27-21 in Saar a week ago, a result which denied Quins a third Champions League title in a row.
“Bahrain, as they did last week, will provide a stern test. However, I expect to see the players display progress based on factors we took away from last week as a learning curve,” added McFarlane.
“It’s going to be an incredibly competitive league as ever, there’s no doubt about that.
“We are still looking to integrate new systems and structures and I’m sure it will take a further few games to utilise and refine them.
“The players have been fully committed and training hard and that’s all I can ask of them with a great buzz around the squad demonstrating once again the healthy culture we look to breed.”
