AD neighbours lead pack for new season

Matt Jones - Editor 21:42 23/09/2015
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  • Quins (c) are the team to beat again this year.

    The capital city duo of Abu Dhabi Harlequins and Saracens are blazing a trail in domestic rugby and will go toe-to-toe once more as the UAE Premiership returns this weekend.

    Reigning champions Quins will be out to defend the crown they won last season, while Sarries’ arc of improvement as the season wore on was crowned superbly by beating Doha to claim the West Asia Cup in March.

    With Quins also winning the Gulf Men’s League title at the Dubai Sevens in December, the Abu Dhabi duo hoovered up three of the four major rugby honours available last season.

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    There has since been a massive sea-change in the league, with all six Premiership clubs changing head coach during the summer, as well as many saying goodbye to and welcoming in a raft of new players.

    Heineken Cup-winner Jeremy Manning has stepped down from his coaching role at Quins, but new head coach Mike McFarlane is excited for the new campaign.

    “The atmosphere around the club is fantastic,” said the Englishman, a former player.

    “We have an exceptional array of talent which marries well with the boys’ relentless work rate. We’ve had a productive pre-season and can’t wait to transfer that onto the pitch.

    “We are looking for honours and to enjoy our running rugby style.”

    Confidence is also high at Sarries. The Al Ghazal club really announced themselves last season after their stunning West Asia Cup triumph and they have the chance to continue that fine form with a dream start to the new season.

    Sarries travel to Zayed Sport City to take on Quins in a mouthwatering opening fixture on Friday.

    “It’s a great test to start the season, but a game we go into with a lot of confidence,” said Sarries joint head coach Stephen Hamilton.

    “We’ve brought on board several new players which have really added to the strength of the team. Our pack, meanwhile, has retained its strength and we will look to dominate in the set piece.”

    All this success cannot have sat well 150km down the road in Dubai, where Hurricanes, Exiles and Jebel Ali Dragons are determined to right some wrongs.

    Dragons found themselves in alien territory last season, going from prince to the paupers of UAE rugby. They have lost the influential Sean Crombie, but welcome back familiar faces in Imad Reyal, Adam Telford and Andy Russell who return after injury-ravaged 2014-15 campaigns, while former Leinster No8 Richie Leyden has also signed.

    “We want to wipe the slate clean and get back to winning ways,” said director of rugby Paul Hart. “Quins and Sarries will be the favourites but we believe we’re significantly stronger.”

    Canes, meanwhile, will be looking to exorcise some demons. They stormed to first place in the Premiership but came unstuck in the final, thrashed 39-19 by a resurgent Quins. After that, their season quickly unravelled, finishing fourth in the Gulf Top Six. 

    There was even less joy at Exiles, the oldest club in the UAE, who failed to qualify for the GT6. They recovered to win the Gulf Conference but last season was a major disappointment.

    Elsewhere, in the Garden City, Al Ain Amblers are back in the big time and are certainly not here to make up the numbers. Head coach Andrew Rouvi is well aware that the Premiership is a whole different beast to the UAE Conference, in which Amblers sauntered to the title last season undefeated.

    They won 15 of 15 games in the Conference and although Rouvi knows they will not achieve a flawless 100 per cent record again, he is adamant that his talented side will ruffle some feathers.

    “We’re not daunted by the Premiership, definitely not like we were when we were last there a few years ago,” said the New Zealander. “Our goal is to get the right structures in place to stay there this time and be competitive. It’s a step up but it’s a challenge we’re looking forward to.”

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