Dubai Exiles meeting great expectations in UAE Premiership but they are not done yet

Dubai are ahead of where they expected to be at this stage, as they are level on top of the UAE Premiership, but remain a work in progress, writes Paul Radley.

Dubai Exiles, in black, have suffered just one defeat this season as they share the top spot in the UAE Premiership. Grant Winter for The National

DUBAI // Not so long ago, if Dubai Exiles had had to play with 14 men for an hour, it might have been a symptom of an availability crisis.

It is telling of the club’s renaissance in the first half of this season that it did not matter a jot when that situation occurred because of a player indiscretion last weekend.

On the receiving end of a 19th minute red card against their neighbours, Dubai Hurricanes, at The Sevens on Friday, they were still able to claim a bonus-point victory.

It meant they will go into the season break level on top of the UAE Premiership. What a change in fortunes for a club who forfeited first-team matches as recently as 2012, and who have been among the also-rans in the seasons since.

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Their one defeat so far this season was an after-the-buzzer, final-play heartbreaker against Abu Dhabi Harlequins, the holders and joint-leaders of the Premiership.

Given the fact Quins have been regular contenders for all the major honours for some time now, it is fair to argue that Exiles have been the team of the season so far.

According to Jacques Benade, the Exiles director of rugby, they are ahead of where they expected to be at this stage, but remain a work in progress.

“We had a three-year plan, and we hoped to be winning something in three years,” said Benade, who arrived in Dubai in the summer.

“We wanted to make sure we had a big squad again, that players would be proud to play for Exiles and enjoy the rugby they are playing.

“In many ways we have got there already. Boys are having to fight for their places, we did really well in recruiting, we have been working really hard on fitness, and we have been giving everyone a fair chance.

“For us to be where we are at the moment, we are very happy, but there is still so much more to do.”

Now the 15-a-side season pauses as the clubs focus on the run up to the Dubai Rugby Sevens on National Day weekend next month.

Benade is hopeful his side can return from the XVs hiatus in January a stronger team and, he says, the players who are not involved in the sevens team will not be excused training between now and then.

“We have a lot of character, the boys are proud to play in that shirt and they play for each other,” Benade said.

Following Rinus Bothma’s red card, Benade conceded: “For five minutes against Hurricanes we were really worried about how we were going to react, but we then went on to play some of our best rugby.

“Our set piece at the moment is really strong, so even with seven men we still scrummed really well and put Hurricanes under pressure. That shows where we are at the moment and hopefully we can step up and be even stronger come January.”

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