Joint player/coach Sean Crombie has left the Jebel Ali Dragons but the cause of his exit remains shrouded in secrecy.
Crombie, 28, is to return home to Scotland but club chairman Mike Lewis admits he is “not sure of the reasons” behind his departure, although he has heaped praise on a player who was part of a dominant Dragons which won successive trebles in 2012/13 and 2013/14.
The club, however, struggled after the hooker and team-mate Murray Strang took on player/coach roles after the surprise departure of Ross Mills last season.
They laboured into the Gulf Top Six after finishing fourth in the UAE Premiership and won only two of eight games in the GT6 – finishing fifth – just two points above rock bottom Bahrain.
They were also knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the Dubai Sevens. The club announced last month they were looking to appoint a dedicated head coach to run the team next season, although Crombie and Strang were expected to remain at the Jebel Ali Centre of Excellence as players.
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Crombie, who has played for Scotland’s sevens and also represented his country at Under-19 and Under-21 level, was the first ever player of the year winner at the UAE Rugby Annual Awards in April 2014. His departure is a major blow for an already-vulnerable Dragons following a disastrous campaign.
“I’m not sure of the reasons but he’s returning home to Scotland,” said Dragons chairman Lewis. “I haven’t had a conversation with him about the reasons but I think he’s decided it’s the better option.
“Sean’s a larger than life character and will be missed by all the boys. He’s been a top player and has also been influential off the field too. He’s always vocal and has lots of experience, while outside the club lots of people know and respect him in the UAE rugby community.”
UAE captain and a long-time clubmate of Crombie’s Adam Telford added: “Losing Sean is a major blow. He’s been a big factor at Dragons, a big influence as both a player and a coach, and losing him will be tough.
“He made a massive impact when he came out here and blew the league away in his first season. One of his first games was the 2013 UAE Premiership final against Dubai Hurricanes and he was man-of-the-match.”
