Coaches in the UAE believe expected changes to the structure of rugby in the country will raise the standard of the game in the Emirates.
The UAE Rugby Federation is in discussions to extend the length of the Sport360° UAE Premiership next season, while the Gulf Top Six could feature as many as 10 teams.
If proposed changes get the green light, this season’s Premiership will see teams playing home and away, doubling the amount of games each plays from five to 10.
To combat stagnated periods of action for the likes of West Asia teams Doha, Muscat, Kuwait and Bahrain meanwhile, the GT6 could also feasibly become the GT10.
If that gets the go-ahead, each team would play 18 games as opposed to 10.
“The standard of rugby in the UAE has improved greatly in recent years and continuing to raise that is a good thing,” said Abu Dhabi Saracens joint head coach Stephen Hamilton, 27.
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“It depends on what people want from their rugby. If people want to push the level of rugby up, closer to what it is like in the UK, then changes like this need to come in.”
New Dubai Exiles head coach Jacques Benade is also backing the proposals.
“There will be more fixtures which is good. The disappointing thing is that if you don’t make it into the premier event of the season, the Gulf Top Six, your season is over,” said the 45-year-old South African.
“The bottom two go into the Gulf Conference and Exiles won every game there by 50 or 60 points and there’s nothing to play for. If changes go ahead, the whole season will be more competitive and I think that’s brilliant.”
The 2015/16 season is due to get underway in late September.
