Jacques Benade is targeting a return to UAE rugby’s top table for Dubai Exiles.
The former fly-half enjoyed a stellar playing career, representing the Emerging Springboks, playing alongside Joost van der Westhuizen for the Blue Bulls, featuring in Super 12 (now Super Rugby) with Natal Sharks while he also played in the Heineken Cup with Treviso.
Despite arriving in the sweltering UAE summer, the 45-year-old will not have much time to acclimatise.
The heat is on the club’s new director of rugby as he attempts to reverse last season’s fortunes.
Exiles finished fifth in the UAE Premiership, missing out on qualification for the Gulf Top Six for a second successive season.
Although they have claimed back-to-back Gulf Conference triumphs in each of the last two campaigns, Benade says with the elite is where Exiles belong.
“When you are not in that Gulf Top Six you’re down in the Conference and it’s a very negative thing for Exiles not to be seen as one of the top six clubs in the Gulf, that’s something we need to address,” said Benade.
“It’s one of the reasons the club appointed me. We need to perform and get that pride back. I’m sure everyone is keen to see me on the pitch and what I can do and how I can help the club move forward.
“Jan (Venter, previous coach) and the guys have done an unbelievable job over the last few years, moving the club away from perhaps where it shouldn’t have been.
“They’ve built a squad that hopefully I can come into, continue to build and move to a new level.”
After his playing career, Benade moved to Ireland for what he had envisioned being a seven month player coach at All-Ireland League side Malone RFC.
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His stay in the Emerald Isle turned out to be a wee bit longer, 15 years in fact, during which time he also coached Ballymena and learnt from former British & Irish Lions legends Syd Miller and Willie John McBride.
Benade doesn’t expect his mission to get Exiles back to winning ways to take as long, but he is promising no quick fixes.
After all, rugby in the Emirates is evolving and has changed vastly in the last few years.
Things seemed to move at light speed even last season, with Abu Dhabi Saracens emerging as a new force and putting previous powerhouses Abu Dhabi Harlequins and Jebel Ali Dragons in the shade.
“I’d love to win a trophy, it’s always a target,” he said.
“If we can get a cup at the end of the season I’ll be delighted, but you’re not going to come in in your first year and win the league, I don’t think that’s going to happen,” he said.
“We have to improve on last year. The Gulf Top Six is my short term goal, which would show we’re better as a team.
“We want to be competitive, we want to go and win every game and that will be my target.”
