Al Noobi hoping UAE experience will help him at Saracens

Matt Jones - Editor 10:17 05/10/2015
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  • Al Noobi (c) handles the ball.

    New Abu Dhabi Saracens full-back Hassan Al Noobi believes his experience with the UAE national team will help him settle in quickly in his new surroundings.

    The Emirati, 28, made the move to Al Ghazal this summer, stepping up to the UAE Premiership following two years with Conference side Arabian Knights.

    The talented back shone for the UAE 15s team during the Asia Rugby Championship tour to Malaysia in May, notching 23 points in three games for Roelof Kotze’s men.

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    Al Noobi has also been part of the UAE sevens side that has performed well in two legs of the Asia Rugby Sevens Series in China and Thailand in recent weeks.

    “I don’t think it will be difficult for me because I’ve played with the international teams so it will be the same sort of level,” said Al Noobi when asked if he believes he can make the step up at Sarries. “I will try my best to improve and be one of the best players in the league. I’m going to do my best and try to help the team.”

    Al Noobi slotted three of five conversions as Sarries opened their Premiership account for the season on Friday night with a 31-10 defeat of Al Ain Amblers, and he believes Sarries can pick up from a successful 2014-15 campaign, which ended in glorious West Asia Cup triumph against Doha in March.

    “From what I’ve seen, Sarries can continue the success and I’m looking forward to hopefully being champions with Saracens, playing in the West Asia Championship and to win that,” he added.

    The team are renowned for the family-orientated atmosphere at Al Ghazal and Al Noobi revealed he experienced that first hand at his very first training session.

    “I noticed that on the first day,” he said. “When you join a new club and you don’t know any of the boys you feel uncomfortable, but when I came here they made me comfortable from the start.”

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