‘Small club’ Sharjah Wanderers are thinking big in UAE Conference

Sharjah Wanderers will put their 100 per cent start to the season on the line when they welcome some familiar rivals to their club in the UAE Conference on Friday, writes Paul Radley.

The second-placed Wanderers, in red, are undefeated so far this season and are looking to close the gap with Abu Dhabi Harlequins’ second XV at the top. Satish Kumar / The National

Sharjah Wanderers will put their 100 per cent start to the season on the line when they welcome some familiar rivals to their club in the UAE Conference on Friday.

Dubai Hurricanes, their opponents, were formed by a set of former Wanderers players. Since then, the breakaway side have become one of the largest clubs in the Middle East.

By contrast, Sharjah still term themselves “a small club” despite having facilities that would be the envy of many clubs in the region.

Three years ago, they even opted to switch training bases from their home city to Dubai – first to the public Zabeel Park, then to The Sevens at the start of this season – in a bid to attract more players.

“We are only a small club and affording The Sevens twice a week wasn’t really an option,” said Shane Breen, the Wanderers scrum-half.

“We figured one solid session per week, we would benefit from that more. It has helped us out having an actual pitch with lines, rather than a slanted patch of grass at Zabeel Park.”

If results on the field are anything to go by, it has been a savvy move. The second-placed Wanderers are undefeated so far this season and are looking to close the gap with Abu Dhabi Harlequins’ second XV at the top.

“Canes have been the most consistent side in the Conference over the past five years, there is a history between us and in the past couple of years there has been a couple of tight games,” Breen said.

“We want to push on. We are targeting Abu Dhabi, but we are not looking past this game. We have some momentum on our side.”

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE