Bright future for next generation of Dubai Exiles according to director of rugby Benade

With the senior Exiles enjoying such a magnificent resurgence under a former player who was only prevented from gaining full Springbok honours by the likes of Joel Stransky, Jannie de Beer and Henry Honiball, it’s easy to forget that Benade’s role at the UAE’s most famous domestic club is far more diverse.

It’s not something that slips Benade’s mind, though, as he was pacing the sidelines during the U-16 final as intensely as he would be were it his senior men locking horns with Quins.

“These U-16’s are a very talented group and the coaches are working very hard with them so it’s nice to come in and help if they need it,” Benade said following Exiles comprehensive 19-0 triumph.

“That was the main idea when the club appointed me, to get more and more involved with the youth and minis. In your first year you have to see what we can do but from next year there will be a much bigger emphasis on it and we’ll do a lot more with the youth and minis.

“That’s the future for the club. Some of those boys will go away to university but hopefully they’ll come back and play, that’s the main idea.”

Exiles were always in control of the final, bullocking prop Rhys Luke proving to be more than a handful as he barged his way through for two first-half tries, which were both converted by fly-half Ben Kane.

Both teams played some fluid rugby and that was typified by the try of the game in the second half which sealed victory for Exiles, the ball moving freely through several sets of hands before winger Mitch Kennedy’s trickery and pace carried him to the line.

While Benade has overseen a dramatic change in fortunes in 2015-16 from the malaise Exiles had found themselves in during recent seasons, he has done so via a myriad of personnel changes, with the likes of club captain Glenn Moore and scrum-half Ed Armitage two of the few first team players remaining from 12 months ago.

However, with his combined role in developing the next generation and evident level of talent in the youth ranks, Benade hopes future Exiles teams can be fielded entirely of Dubai natives.

“It’s important to keep those boys playing for Exiles in the future, it will be brilliant if we can have those boys in the first team in a few years,” added Benade.

“You don’t have to go outside and bring boys in to play because there’ll be enough players here in Dubai you can build a team from to compete against everyone else. That is, in the long run, what we want to achieve at the club.”

Fijian rugby icon Waisale Serevi was also at the festival, appearing as an ambassador for sponsors HSBC.

The 47-year-old, who won the Rugby World Cup Sevens with Fiji in 1997 and 2005, was left impressed with the level of talent on display over the two days, with tournaments played from U-5 to U-19.

“I thank HSBC for being the sponsor of grassroots rugby in the UAE and giving these kids the opportunity to play in such a good environment and on good grounds to give them a future,” said Serevi.

“I’m really impressed with the way they have been playing. They’re so competitive and have a lot of skills, enthusiasm and passion. I’m excited by their talent and I thank the coaches for giving their time.”

Top of the bill: Festival winners
U-5
Cup Winner: Dubai Exiles
Plate Winner: Heartbeat Sports Tigers
U-6 A
Cup Winner: Arabian Knights
Plate Winner: Arabian Knights
Bowl Winner: Heartbeat Sports Tigers
Shield Winner: Dubai Hurricanes
U-6 B
Cup Winner: Knights
Plate Winner: Tigers B
Bowl Winner: Tigers D
Shield Winner: Tigers C
U-6 Social
Cup Winner: Canes D
Plate Winner: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
U-7 A
Cup Winner: Knights
Plate Winner: Exiles A
Bowl Winner: Abu Dhabi French
Shield Winner: Canes
U-7 B
Cup Winner: Canes B
Plate Winner: Doha – B
Bowl Winner: Knights B
Shield Winner: Exiles
U-7 Social
Cup Winner: Canes E
Plate Winner: Muscat
Bowl Winner: Knights D
U-8 A
Cup Winner: Knights
Plate Winner: Canes
Bowl Winner: AD Quins
Shield Winner: Al Ain A
U-8 B
Cup Winner: Bahrain Tigers
Plate Winner: AD Quins
Bowl Winner: Knights B
Shield Winner: Al Ain mixed B
U-8 C
Cup Winner: Exiles
Plate Winner: AD Quins
U-8 Social
Cup Winner: Canes D
Plate Winner: Exiles social 1
Bowl Winner: Exiles social 2
Shield Winner: Canes – social
U-9 A
Cup Winner: Knights A
Plate Winner: Exiles
Bowl Winner: Canes
U-9 B
Cup Winner: AD Quins B
Plate Winner: Tigers
Bowl Winner: Exiles B
Shield Winner: Doha Lions
U-9 C
Cup Winner: Knights & Canes
Plate Winner: Knights
Bowl Winner: Doha Tigers
U-9 DE V
Cup Winner: AD Warriors D
Plate Winner: Al Ain social
Bowl Winner: AD Quins B
U-10 C
Cup Winner: AD Quins
Plate Winner: Doha
U-10 Social
Cup Winner: AD Quins
U-11 A
Cup Winner: Canes A
Plate Winner: Tigers A
Bowl Winner: AD Quins A
Shield Winner: Doha
U-11 B
Cup Winner: Canes C
Plate Winner: Exiles B
Bowl Winner: Canes B
Shield Winner: Ba Ba’s
U12 A
Plate Winner: Exiles A
Shield Winner: Al Ain
U-13 A
Cup Winner: AD Warriors
Plate Winner: AD Quins
Bowl Winner: Knights
U-13 B
Cup Winner: AD French
Plate Winner: AD Warriors
Bowl Winner: Canes
U-14 A
Cup Winner: Exiles
Plate Winner: AD Quins
U-14 B
Cup Winner: Al Ain
Plate Winner: Knights
U-16 A
Cup Winner: Exiles
Plate Winner: Canes A
U-16 B
Cup Winner: Canes
Plate Winner: AD Quins
Bowl Winner: AD French
U-19 Colts
Cup Winner: Al Ain
Plate Winner: Doha
Bowl Winner: Exiles
Shield Winner: Canes
U-12G A
Cup Winner: Knights A
Plate Winner: Exiles
Bowl Winner: Canes
Shield Winner: Al Ain
U-12G B
Cup Winner: Canes B
Plate Winner: Exiles B
Bowl Winner: AD Warriors
Shield Winner: AD Quins B
U-15G
Cup Winner: Exiles A
Plate Winner: Al Ain
U-19G
Cup Winner: Exiles
Plate Winner: Al Ain
Shield Winner: Knights