DUBAI // Much has been made of the transformative effect of the Olympics on sevens, with its Rio debut reportedly helping attract 16.8 million new supporters to rugby’s abbreviated format.
At the weekend in Dubai, there was a discernible bounce on a smaller scale after the Games, notably on the form of the three nations which constitute Great Britain.
Despite having a miserable time on the World Series last season, a combined side of players from England, Wales and Scotland took the silver medal at the Games.
One tournament is not much of a sample size to go on, but the Dubai Rugby Sevens suggests the three Home Nations prefer post-Olympic life to that which went immediately before it.
England, who have been contenders at the top of the standings at times in the past, finished a below-par eighth on the series last season. Scotland were 10th, while Wales, World Cup Sevens winners in Dubai in 2009, were 12th.
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In Dubai, their fortunes were greatly improved. England took bronze, Wales reached their first semi-final since 2013, while Scotland were sixth – and were only denied a place in the top four by a farcical late loss to England in the quarters.
According to Simon Amor, the England coach who was also in charge of the GB sevens team, the season leading up to the Games was problematic.
Gareth Williams, the Wales coach who was Amor’s assistant, meanwhile, suggested this weekend Dubai Sevens marked the start of his side building for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
“From our point of view, we are very much focused on building towards the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup in 2018,” Williams said.
“We have the honour of taking a squad to the Commonwealth Games representing Wales, which is different to what the Olympics was. It is a fantastic challenge for us, and we are excited about that.”
Being friends once every four years, and enemies the rest of the time is not totally alien to British rugby players – given the concept apes that of the British & Irish Lions.
It is unique on the sevens circuit, though. When England played Wales in the bronze medal match on Pitch 1 on Saturday, a number of Olympic teammates were up against each other.
Ironically, two players who shared a contrasting experience of the Games to the rest were try-scorers in England’s 38-10 win.
Luke Treharne, the Wales co-captain, and Charlie Hayter, of England, were non-travelling reserves in Rio.
“We weren’t in the village,” said Treharne, who will be absent from the Wales team at the Cape Town Sevens as he is returning home because of his medical studies.
“It was weird. We weren’t allowed on the bus to training with the boys. We trained, but we had to get taxis to get there.
“It was a bit mad. We weren’t allowed to have accreditation for the venues, so we had to sit in the stands and wait.
“We did such a long training camp before it, so we had a great bond with the boys anyway. But it was strange that they went through a whole tournament without getting a knock at all.”
Samoa set to soar
Meanwhile England’s Amor believes Samoa will be revived as a force on the World Sevens Series by the appointment of Gordon Tietjens.
Tietjens ended a 22-year reign in charge of New Zealand after they failed to medal at the Rio Olympics, and subsequently signed a four-year contract to coach Samoa.
The Samoans did not qualify for the Olympics, and were ninth on last season’s series, despite being world champions in 2009/10.
“Titch has been the most successful sevens coach the world has ever seen, so if he goes into any programme, you know there is going to be a bounce effect that comes from that,” Amor said.
“We know that is going to happen. We knew they were going to be a tough team to play against, they are going to be a real tough proposition this season.”
Samoa finished eighth at the Dubai Rugby Sevens, with Tietjens watching on from the stands.
“To me it is a learning curve to be with Titch,” said Stephen Betham, the coach who took Samoa to the title six years ago, who is now Tietjens’ No 2.
“He has won every title, except for an Olympic medal. It has been a great experience to work with Titch.”
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THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
Fixtures
Wednesday
4.15pm: Japan v Spain (Group A)
5.30pm: UAE v Italy (Group A)
6.45pm: Russia v Mexico (Group B)
8pm: Iran v Egypt (Group B)
Manchester United v Liverpool
Premier League, kick off 7.30pm (UAE)
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
TV (UAE time);
OSN Sports: from 10am
If you go
- The nearest international airport to the start of the Chuysky Trakt is in Novosibirsk. Emirates (www.emirates.com) offer codeshare flights with S7 Airlines (www.s7.ru) via Moscow for US$5,300 (Dh19,467) return including taxes. Cheaper flights are available on Flydubai and Air Astana or Aeroflot combination, flying via Astana in Kazakhstan or Moscow. Economy class tickets are available for US$650 (Dh2,400).
- The Double Tree by Hilton in Novosibirsk ( 7 383 2230100,) has double rooms from US$60 (Dh220). You can rent cabins at camp grounds or rooms in guesthouses in the towns for around US$25 (Dh90).
- The transport Minibuses run along the Chuysky Trakt but if you want to stop for sightseeing, hire a taxi from Gorno-Altaisk for about US$100 (Dh360) a day. Take a Russian phrasebook or download a translation app. Tour companies such as Altair-Tour ( 7 383 2125115 ) offer hiking and adventure packages.
if you go
The flights
Emirates fly direct from Dubai to Houston, Texas, where United have direct flights to Managua. Alternatively, from October, Iberia will offer connections from Madrid, which can be reached by both Etihad from Abu Dhabi and Emirates from Dubai.
The trip
Geodyssey’s (Geodyssey.co.uk) 15-night Nicaragua Odyssey visits the colonial cities of Leon and Granada, lively country villages, the lake island of Ometepe and a stunning array of landscapes, with wildlife, history, creative crafts and more. From Dh18,500 per person, based on two sharing, including transfers and tours but excluding international flights. For more information, visit visitnicaragua.us.
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Sawt Assalam, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Foah, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Faiza, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: RB Dixie Honor, Antonio Fresu, Helal Al Alawi.
7.30pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Boerhan, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.
If you go
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Valencia v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Mallorca v Alaves (4pm)
Barcelona v Getafe (7pm)
Villarreal v Levante (9.30pm)
Sunday
Granada v Real Volladolid (midnight)
Sevilla v Espanyol (3pm)
Leganes v Real Betis (5pm)
Eibar v Real Sociedad (7pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Monday
Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (midnight)
The biog
Name: James Mullan
Nationality: Irish
Family: Wife, Pom; and daughters Kate, 18, and Ciara, 13, who attend Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)
Favourite book or author: “That’s a really difficult question. I’m a big fan of Donna Tartt, The Secret History. I’d recommend that, go and have a read of that.”
Dream: “It would be to continue to have fun and to work with really interesting people, which I have been very fortunate to do for a lot of my life. I just enjoy working with very smart, fun people.”
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
Super Rugby play-offs
Quarter-finals
- Hurricanes 35, ACT 16
- Crusaders 17, Highlanders 0
- Lions 23, Sharks 21
- Chiefs 17, Stormers 11
Semi-finals
Saturday, July 29
- Crusaders v Chiefs, 12.35pm (UAE)
- Lions v Hurricanes, 4.30pm
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner RB Money To Burn, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Kimbear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Platinum Star, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Key Victory, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
