Jebel Ali Dragons primed for centre stage at Dubai Sevens

Imad Reyal and Rory Binder will be missing from their ranks at the Dubai Sevens, but the domestic treble-winners from last season remain the team to beat, writes Paul Radley.

Jebel Ali Dragons captain Taif Al Delamie is no stranger to Pitch 1. Sarah Dea / The National

DUBAI // It is difficult to pick a single, most redeeming feature of the Dubai Rugby Sevens. It is all things to all types of rugby players, three days of sporting paradise.

Surely one of the neatest features of it, though, is the opportunity it presents for amateur players to play in front of a crowd of 45,000 people on Pitch 1.

Reaching a Saturday final and running out in front of the heaving stands will be a motivating force for many this weekend, even those who have been lucky enough to do so before.

Taif Al Delamie, the Jebel Ali Dragons captain, is a veteran of the main field. When the Dragons won last year’s Gulf League final against Abu Dhabi Harlequins, though, it was the first time the experience had been anything but painful.

The Omani had been the first and only Arab national to captain the Arabian Gulf, the side which used to represent this region at international level and were guaranteed a place at the Sevens as hosts.

Since the Gulf was disbanded and the UAE assumed their place, an automatic berth in their home competition has not been available.

It is not necessarily a bad thing, though, according to Al Delamie.

If the Dragons do get to Saturday’s final, they will know they are there on merit and will be able to compete when they are there.

“It was certainly less stressful last year but just like any game when you go on the pitch you want to win,” Al Delamie said.

“There is more chance of that happening in this league than when you are playing with the Arabian Gulf in the IRB competition against the likes of New Zealand and South Africa.

“Although you go out there believing you can win, the likelihood of that happening is slim.”

Now Al Delamie leads a Dragons side who have owned domestic sevens for years, winning four of the last five Dubai titles, as well as sweeping the board in this season’s UAE series.

Two exceptional players, Imad Reyal and Rory Binder, will be missing from their ranks this weekend, but the domestic treble-winners from last season remain the team to beat.

“Jebel Ali Dragons are streets ahead of everybody,” said Jeremy Manning, the player-coach of Abu Dhabi Harlequins, last year’s defeated finalists.

“Their standard is a good thing to see for UAE rugby but it is going to be an uphill battle for us.

“We are there to enjoy the weekend and we will be playing with smiles on our faces, and if we can reach the final then all the better.”

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