DUBAI // Christina Noble began the defence of their International Veterans title yesterday with all the elan you would expect of a side saturated with Test experience.
The charity side opened the Dubai Rugby Sevens with the first match on Pitch 2 by easing to a 40-0 win over Swansea University Old Boys. They then trounced Brussels Barbarians 59-0, during which Malcolm O'Kelly, their 92-cap former Ireland lock, popped up on the left wing to score.
The only surprise was the fact that Dan Luger, the former winger who was part of England's World Cup-winning squad in 2003, did not feature on the scoresheet.
After a 15-year career that took him to some of Europe's top clubs, Luger retired two years ago following a stint at Toulon, the big-spending French side where Jonny Wilkinson now plays.
He is happy for the chance to be back playing in Dubai. "I have been looking forward to reaching the age limit [35 and over] to play in the vets and getting involved," Luger said. "These are guys who haven't seen each other for years but played together on England tours or British Lions tours or in club rugby.
"It is great to see each other again in an environment that is chilled out. You don't necessaril y get the chance to do that when you are playing professional rugby."
The three rivals to Christina Noble's crown - the Bali Legends, Xodus Steelers and Wooden Spoon, led by the former London Wasps hooker Trevor Leota - also recorded 100 per cent starts.
In the Gulf Men's event, Dubai Dragons claimed a 35-12 success to kick off their pursuit of a third consecutive title, despite conceding the opening score against Muscat.
"It was a slow start, but we are confident and looking to make it three from three," Trent Eastgate, the Dragons captain, said.
pradley@thenational.ae
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
Company%20Profile
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
FIRST TEST SCORES
England 458
South Africa 361 & 119 (36.4 overs)
England won by 211 runs and lead series 1-0
Player of the match: Moeen Ali (England)
The 10 Questions
- Is there a God?
- How did it all begin?
- What is inside a black hole?
- Can we predict the future?
- Is time travel possible?
- Will we survive on Earth?
- Is there other intelligent life in the universe?
- Should we colonise space?
- Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?
- How do we shape the future?
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
Dunbar
Edward St Aubyn
Hogarth
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
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Company%20Profile
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Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
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About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
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