The Dubai Hurricanes captain, Chris Gregory, reckons his side are never afforded "any respect" - even though they have been the top team in the region for the past two years.
The defending champions kick-off their Arabian Premiership defence against their city rivals Dubai Dragons at the new new rugby facility, The Sevens, tomorrow.
Despite their recent dominance, the majority of talk during domestic rugby's off-season has centred around the advance of Abu Dhabi Harlequins.
Quins have been termed the region's new "glamour" club, following the influx of two new coaches, a raft of new players, and a high-profile associate deal with the English Premiership club Harlequins.
Their summer push has also prompted predictions of a revival from the sleeping giants, Dubai Exiles - relegating the current champion side, Hurricanes, to a mere afterthought in most people's predictions for the new campaign.
Gregory, who also plays for the Arabian Gulf, believes that will work in his side's favour when the talking finally stops and the action begins.
He said: "It seems to have happened again where we are the underdogs, despite having won it for the past two seasons.
"No-one pays us any respect. It has been like that forever for us. We really enjoy it because it means we have to keep proving ourselves to everyone.
"We know what we have done, and what we are capable of. We hear, 'Oh, Hurricanes are not going to do anything this season' - then we just come back and win it again."
At the request of the clubs, and with the aim of increasing the amount of games involving the top sides, the Gulf union (AGRFU) have introduced a new tournament this term.
The Super Five will pit together the Hurricanes, Dragons, Exiles, Abu Dhabi and Muscat - meaning the best players will get more game-time than ever before in the region.
"Older guys like myself will probably be laid up in bed by Christmas," joked the Hurricanes and Arabian Gulf winger Graham Brown of the new development.
"It will be very competitive this year. Rugby out here has come on leaps and bounds."
Before the Hurricanes assumed their mantle, their opening day opponents the Dragons were the perennial champions.
They have spent the past two seasons rebuilding, and - despite losing the influential former Gulf captain Diarmuid O'Malley to retirement - they believe they are more than ready to challenge this time round.
The Dragons captain, James Wellings, is excited at the addition of a new fly-half to his line-up - not least because it means he can move back to his preferred position in midfield.
The arrival of Henry Connell, who played national league rugby for Otley back in England, could provide the spark for the speedy Dragons back division.
"Henry is looking very sharp," said Wellings, who is a secondary teacher at Wellington International School in Dubai and a member of the Gulf's sevens squad.
"We have a lot of new players. The pack in particular has been strengthened, especially the back-row.
"That is what we need if we are going to compete with Hurricanes and Abu Dhabi."
The Exiles, the team everyone else likes to beat most, have endured a fallow run by their own standards recently.
They have seen first the Dragons, and lately the Hurricanes supersede them as the Emirate's top club.
Furthermore, initial signs suggest the Exiles will have little say over running the new rugby facility, the Emirates-owned Sevens.
Having been turfed out of their iconic former home in Al Awir, which was bulldozed to make way for the Meydan project, they are looking to become more proactive in recruitment.
That drive started with the appointment of the popular former Abu Dhabi captain Wayne Marsters - who remains on the AGRFU's coaching staff - as head coach this summer.
Bahrain, Doha and Kuwait Nomads take the Arabian Gulf Premiership up to seven teams.
However, the financial constraints involved in travelling such vast distances to the majority of their away matches is likely to hinder a sustained title push from any of them.
The economics behind entering a team in regional competition has already accounted for Muscat. The Oman club have been surviving on good will and astounding player commitment since their club-house was closed 18 months ago.
Despite fielding a competitive starting XV which finished fifth last term, Muscat were forced to withdraw from the Premiership. Now they will solely participate in the cups and the newly-inaugurated Super Five competition.
"Without the money generated at the club-house, we have been struggling to cover travel expenses," said the Muscat captain and Arabian Gulf flanker Karl Sutcliffe.
"Also, with the weekend in Oman still being Thursday/Friday, it makes it very difficult for the players.
"If we have a match in Dubai, the players have to drive for five or six hour to get there, play, and then head straight home afterwards."
pradley@thenational.ae
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
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England v West Indies
England squad for the first Test Cook, Stoneman, Westley, Root (captain), Malan, Stokes, Bairstow, Moeen, Roland-Jones, Broad, Anderson, Woakes, Crane
Fixtures
1st Test Aug 17-21, Edgbaston
2nd Test Aug 25-29, Headingley
3rd Test Sep 7-11, Lord's
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
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Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
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