Dubai Exiles coach plays down West Asia Champions League expectations

The Dubai Exiles, in black, completed a UAE rugby double in the 2015/16 season. Jeffrey Biteng / The National

DUBAI // Jacques Benade, the Dubai Exiles coach, has played down expectations of his side ahead of their debut in the West Asia Champions League.

The tournament, which starts at The Sevens tomorrow, involves three teams this year, down by one from 12 months ago, after the Kazakhstan champions opted out.

The Exiles, who won a domestic double last season, will vie with Abu Dhabi Harlequins, their closest challengers in Arabian Gulf rugby last term, and Kandy, Sri Lanka’s champions.

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Victory in the curtain-raising competition would be a fine way for the UAE’s oldest club to kick off their 50th anniversary campaign.

Exiles have a variety of events planned to celebrate their half-century across the course of the season.

They will also sport a retro playing kit – white shirts with a black band around the chest, and gold numbers – reflecting the colours the first Exiles team wore back in 1966.

Despite the great expectations for the season ahead Benade has warned the Champions League may have arrived too soon, with temperatures still soaring and the Gulf league still two weeks from starting.

“We know the big one starts on September 23, but these are two very important games,” Benade said.

“With new boys signing up, you want to give everyone a chance to prove themselves. We are planning our season so everyone is ready on September 23.

“We are taking these two games very seriously, but there are a number of boys who are only a week or two back from holiday. There is only so much you can do in that time.

“It is going to be very difficult so the main thing is getting two games behind us, with no injuries, and get a good competition in.”

The country’s oldest rugby club are again likely to have one of their youngest playing squads. Exiles could feasibly fill their backline with players who went to school in the UAE.

They have recruited another former standout from the schoolboy game this summer, with Matthew Travers opting to join them rather than return to Dubai Hurricanes.

The Jumeirah College alumnus is back from Loughborough University on a year’s work placement at a sports marketing company in Dubai.

The talented young fly-half picked Exiles because of the chance to work with Benade, as well as learn from DuRandt Gerber, the former Italy A No 10 who piloted Exiles’ double win last season.

“It was a tough decision,” said Travers, who is unlikely to play in the Champions League as he is recovering from a medial ligament injury.

“I picked Exiles because it is the 50th year, and I’d heard Jacques had completed his three-year plan for the Exiles in one year, which tells you a lot about his coaching.

“I’ve been told DuRandt was unbelievable last season. I am just going to try to pick up as many things as I can from him, so I can put myself in the best possible position to play at the highest level I can when I go back to university.”

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