Dubai Exiles rift with Jebel Ali Dragons over forfeiting of UAE Premiership Cup semi-final

Matt Jones - Editor 19:11 07/02/2018
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  • Despite securing the easiest passage possible through to the final of the UAE Premiership Cup next month, Dubai Exiles are far from happy.

    Exiles will play the winner of the semi-final between Abu Dhabi Harlequins and Dubai Hurricanes at The Sevens on Friday night.

    The UAE Rugby Federation sanctioned more games for clubs following discussions last summer in a bid to provide more competition and regular rugby. But Exiles are annoyed at having received byes to the final after Abu Dhabi Saracens initially forfeited their quarter-final fixture in December, while Friday’s scheduled semi-final was forfeited this week by Jebel Ali Dragons.

    “It’s out there and clubs have said yes to playing in it. If the UAE RF have said we’re playing, we should, so I’m disappointed with Dragons,” said Exiles chairman Mike Wolff.

    “Their squad is twice the size of ours. If it’s for strong medical reasons, we appreciate that, but it’s not the argument that’s being made. It just seems it wasn’t in their plans and they’re choosing to set their focus elsewhere.

    “Sarries forfeited against us, then Dragons forfeited, so we’re through to the final.”

    Despite the criticism, Dragons hit back by claiming they knew little about the competition, making its debut on the UAE rugby calendar this season, and which they say wasn’t included on the original set of fixtures issued to clubs – even though it was on the official list circulated by the UAE RF to media in late August.

    “We’re not very happy with the inclusion of this cup without much explanation of why it’s included when we have the West Asia Premiership to play for, as well as the West Asia Cup and finally the UAE Premiership, which means there are three quality competitions,” said Dragons head coach Henry Paul.

    “We think that is what was on offer at the start of the season and we’ll be doing our best to win these three.”

    Dragons skipper Ross Samson added: “Boys make plans from the original set of fixtures we were given at the start of the year as we all have lives outside of rugby and this cup wasn’t in our plans until it’s recent announcement.

    Dragons skipper Ross Samson

    Dragons skipper Ross Samson

    “I hate the idea of forfeiting anything as I’m extremely competitive but we need to know about these competitions earlier. We wish the teams the best of luck in the upcoming games.”

    Dragons also said they offered Exiles the chance to combine the cup game with their West Asia Premiership fixture last weekend – Exiles won 35-15 to open up the title race – but that their opponents declined.

    “We offered Exiles a double header last week and they turned it down so we gave them a bye,” added Samson.

    “It’s basically a cup that we had no idea existed, we were given a bye (in December), asked Exiles if they wanted to do a double header to save playing twice, they didn’t want to so we gave them a bye to the final,” added Dragons chairman Stuart Quinn.

    “It’s a completely unnecessary cup made up to fill time. Now there’s the West Asia Premiership, West Asia Cup, the UAE Premiership and this competition. There’s four cups for seven teams. That’s more cups that the Premiership and the Super 15 combined, it’s nonsense.”

    Exiles chairman Mike Wolff (r)

    Exiles chairman Mike Wolff (r)

    But Wolff refuted suggestions a sixth trophy – there is also the Dubai Sevens title as well as the lesser established Asia Rugby Western Clubs Champions League – devalues the competition.

    “The cup is designed to give a small Premiership of six teams some more games,” he said.

    “It’s always good when top teams are playing each other regardless of the competition or format. It’s not devaluing it, it’s a good idea from the UAE RF when we say we don’t have enough games to play.

    “On a broader note I think there’s issues with teams forfeiting, we’ve had five matches postponed across our first and second teams. You don’t get exposure if you’re not playing games, and it’s a risk with sponsors we don’t want to take.”

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