Sting comes in new year for Xodus Wasps

Xodus Wasps Dubai have started the new year with a new coach, as they bid to revive their pursuit of trophies, after instilling John Stamper at the helm. Dubai’s youngest top-flight club enjoyed contrasting fortunes under the guidance of Laurence Parker in 2013, winning their most significant silverware to date, the Gulf Conference, at the start of the year. Despite a substantial sponsorship boost in the summer, which involved handing over the club’s naming rights, as well as an influx of new players, the second half of the year was a disappointment. They failed to win a match in the UAE Premiership before Christmas, thus missing out on their specified aim of a place in the elite cross-border competition, the Gulf Top Six. Parker started the season as the league’s youngest coach, at 24, having moved his focus towards coaching from playing due to serious injury. He has since made moves to return to the playing ranks. Stamper, 46, has been brought in to provide experience to oversee their conference title defence. “Since I have been there I’ve seen a real positivity from the team,” said Stamper, whose opening involvement with the first team involves a five-hour road trip to Muscat today. “There is a real team spirit among these players; they are very supportive of one another and have embraced what Callum Brooks [the attack coach] and I have tried to do.” Stamper, a former county coach in the UK, had six months out of the game, after arriving in Dubai to work last summer. He acknowledged the time out has revived his love for the game. Stamper’s appointment was part of a variety of changes at the club over the winter break. A new treasurer also is in place, and Gareth Armstrong has assumed the club captaincy. “As the club has grown substantially we wanted to grow the success, too,” said Craig Gibson, the club chairman. “The second half of the year wasn’t as we hoped it would be. “We felt a more experienced coach was important to get more out of the squad of players we have now. “We feel John is the right man for the job. “He has had an immediate impact in the few weeks he has been with us so far and morale has lifted dramatically.” Follow us on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE