Dubai Hurricanes' bid to regain their mantle as the top club in the region has suffered an inauspicious start after their ubiquitous head coach Steve Holohan resigned during the off-season. The club sacrificed the Arabian Gulf Premiership crown, which they held for two seasons, to Abu Dhabi Harlequins last season as Dubai sides drew a blank in 15-a-side competitions for the first time in recent memory.
Their title defence suffered badly because of availability problems, partly exacerbated by them providing a nucleus of players to the Gulf sevens side, and the frustration finally told for Holohan. "Now the rugby season is starting and I don't know what to do with myself," admitted the Welshman, who describes his status as "retired". "I still get the team e-mails, and I am still very close to the club so it feels really strange not being involved."
Holohan had been placed in caretaker charge of the Arabian Gulf, along with his Dubai Exiles counterpart, Wayne Marsters, for their maiden Asian Five Nations campaign in 2008. However, the decision to dispense with his services when Gulf bosses appointed a new coaching team for the representative 15s team at the start of this summer added to his feeling of disillusionment. Chris Doyle, the canny fly-half who was badly missed when he suffered a calf injury midway through last season, has taken over coaching duties for the Hurricanes.
Chris Gregory, the captain, said: "We are half looking forward to a successful season, and we have some new blood as well, which is a good thing." Callam Stevens will step up to replace Doyle at No 10. Meanwhile, much is expected from Joshua Sherrin, the powerful South African, who was a revelation at prop for the Gulf sevens side last year. Sherrin, who excelled during a summer switch to rugby league, has been moved to the blindside flank of the Hurricanes scrum from his customary position in the midfield.
Prior to Hurricanes against Abu Dhabi, Dubai Exiles hope to usher in the birthday celebrations of one of their longest-serving players with a win when they begin the new campaign with a Gulf Cup tie against Muscat at The Sevens (KO 5pm). Mark Gathercole, the Exiles' former Harlequins prop, turns 44 today. The tireless veteran has since shed 10kgs in readiness for the new season. @Email:pradley@thenational.ae
