Jebel Ali Dragons have rediscovered confidence and swagger says scrum-half Ross Samson

Matt Jones - Editor 21:49 30/10/2017
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  • In action: Samson.

    Ross Samson admits it feels like 2013 again at Jebel Ali Dragons as he believes the club have rediscovered the swagger that saw them lift back to back trebles just four seasons ago.

    The 29-year-old former Edinburgh and London Irish scrum-half arrived in the Emirates in 2013 and helped Dragons roar to a second straight three trophy haul of UAE Premiership, West Asia Championship and Dubai Sevens.

    That 2013/14 feat came on the back of a first treble a year earlier as Dragons dominated domestic rugby. Yet, Dragons have since been sucked into a downward spiral and been forced to watch the rise of Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Dubai Exiles and even Abu Dhabi Saracens.

    Things improved when ex-union and league international Henry Paul came on board as head coach last summer. And Dragons showed further signs they might well be back to their best when they beat rivals Dubai Exiles in a thrilling 22-18 encounter at The Sevens earlier this month.

    And Samson, one of the few surviving members of that successful double treble-winning squad, is hoping to party like it’s 2013 come the end of 2017/18 campaign.

    “I joined Dragons in 2013. That was the third year in a row they’d won everything. I thought ‘this is alright’,” said Samson, who battled Scotland stalwarts Mike Blair and Greig Laidlaw for the number nine jersey during two seasons with his hometown club after joining them from Newcastle Falcons in 2009.

    “It was a winning team with a good bunch of boys, really sociable too. We went away from that for a few years. Obviously the UAE is a transient place so boys came and went. I’ve stuck it out and kept my body together and it feels like 2013 again, if not better.

    “We’ve got some unbelievable players, like Saki (centre Sakiusa Naisau) and Niko (winger Niko Volavola), guys who pull things out of nowhere.

    “Then you add to that some structure, some big lads and English and Welsh lads in the back row, and it feels good again. At training we’re like 40 or 50 guys as opposed to 15 or 20 in previous season and three full teams.

    “It creates a really positive vibe and you saw that (against Exiles). Exiles had it a few years ago, Quins had it last season.”

    Key man: Saki Naisau.

    Samson paid tribute following the Exiles game to Quins stalwart Ben Bolger, forced to retire earlier this month due to repeated concussions.

    Captain Samson fulfills a similar leadership role at Dragons, although he described himself as more of a “Marmite” type of character compared to Bolger in the Gulf rugby community.

    “I’m a bit of a mouthpiece,” Samson admitted when it was put to him people either love or loathe him.

    “I like winding up the opposition, it’s part of the game. There was a bit of love there with Gio (Fourie, Exiles’ former Dragons hooker) who was with us last year. Then there’s Jaen (Botes) their No8, who’s had more clubs than Tiger Woods.

    “The refs are a bit Marmite with me too so I’ll have to work on that, but we want to have a bit of fun. We’ve all got jobs. We train and put the effort in, I don’t want to come here after work on a Friday and be treated like a professional.

    “It’s a good social. We want to play rugby and express ourselves, have a chat and have some fun scoring tries.”

    And cocksure Scotsman Samson said it feels good that Dragons have rediscovered a bit of their swagger.

    “It does feel like Dragons have their swagger back, I think so,” said Samson.

    “When I speak to boys on a night out, boys want to play for us and hate playing against us. We know we have to be at our best whoever we play because even having been away for a few years, teams want to beat us.

    “That’s what we like and a bit of swagger never hurt anyone, as long as you’re also humble at the final whistle and shake hands, it’s all good.”

    Samson linked Dragons’ turnaround to Paul’s arrival. And even though Dragons were vastly improved in 2016/17, he feels they have improved again over the summer.

    “Last season we would have lost this game,” Samson said of their most recent win, earned after an initial last-gasp try awarded to Exiles scrum-half Carel Thomas was overturned by the touch judge who deemed he had knocked on after a last-ditch Naisau tackle.

    Dragons lost in similar circumstances to Quins on the opening day, a converted try beyond 80 minutes giving them a 34-33 win – a result that echoed the scoreline in the same fixture last season. And Samson believes holding on for victory against Exiles is significant.

    “It was heartbreak against Quins and now we hang on and see the game out. We pushed Quins to within a point in the first game and today we wanted to play well in the local derby, we won and scored some nice tries, and closed the game out.

    “And I think that’s what HP has brought, confidence and structure. I think the structures are in place. The boys have massive respect for HP so buy into it. It’s a bit easier when he’s been there and done it. Last year was a learning curve. We got better slowly but surely and each game.”

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