DUBAI // One of the most dynamic players in World Series history will return to the playing field in Dubai this weekend, more than 10 years after he last wore an England sevens shirt.
Instead of having the red rose on his chest, though, Richard Haughton will be wearing a World Rugby referees kit, and blowing the whistle as a match official.
Haughton scored over 100 tries on the circuit for an England side coached by Mike Friday, the current United States coach, and captained by Simon Amor, who is now England’s coach.
Dubai, where Haughton played three times as a player, will be his debut tournament as an international referee, having graduated to the World Series officials panel for this season.
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“Sevens offers a massive opportunity, and is a stage I absolutely loved as a player,” said Haughton, who played club rugby for Saracens, Wasps and Perpignan.
“Being a referee on that same stage is exciting, albeit I realise there will be pressure. You still want to come back to XVs because that is your bread and butter, but since I played sevens there has basically been a split for the players, and almost the same for referees.
“You end up doing one or the other, and at some point end up having to make a choice as to which way you want to go. Having the chance to do the sevens is fantastic.”
Haughton played 35 tournaments for England over the space of six seasons, and was part of the side that won three successive Hong Kong titles between 2002 and 2004.
Chief among his favourite memories of touring life were being named player of the tournament in Hong Kong, as well as the sights off the field like the Great Wall of China and the Burj Al Arab.
The former winger knows the playing fields of the UAE well, in fact. During his time at Wasps, he played in the one-off fixture against Harlequins on the lawns of Emirate Palace in 2011.
Now 36, he retired from playing at the end of the French Top 14 season in 2014, before looking to a career as a match official.
“When you are watching games with other players, and disagreeing with the decisions the referees have made, making statements while playing, that was what got me interested in being a referee,” Haughton said.
“I was thinking about refereeing even when I was at Wasps, before I went to France, it was just a matter of taking the step and start doing up.
“The problem was, being a player, is your weekends are taken up so it is hard to find the time to referee. In the end, I waited till I had finished playing.”
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Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
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SERIE A FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Roma v Udinese (5pm)
SPAL v Napoli (8pm)
Juventus v Torino (10.45pm)
Sunday
Sampdoria v AC Milan (2.30pm)
Inter Milan v Genoa (5pm)
Crotone v Benevento (5pm)
Verona v Lazio (5pm)
Cagliari v Chievo (5pm)
Sassuolo v Bologna (8pm)
Fiorentina v Atalanta (10.45pm)
The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
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Princeton
The line up
Friday: Giggs, Sho Madjozi and Masego
Saturday: Nas, Lion Bbae, Roxanne Shante and DaniLeigh
Sole DXB runs from December 6 to 8 at Dubai Design District. Weekend pass is Dh295 while a one day pass is Dh195. Tickets are available from www.soledxb.com
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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.
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