DUBAI // Welsh supporters could well be forgiven for heading to the The Sevens today with modest expectations. It has already worked for them once this year.
When they arrived for the Sevens World Cup in March even the players had not considered their chances of causing an upset.
Three days later the academy players, journeymen and students comprising the squad went home as world champions.
On the back of the success their coach, Paul John, won the Coach of the Year title at the Welsh Council for Sport awards, ahead of the likes of Warren Gatland, the head coach of the more celebrated 15s side.
Now he is going to have to prove his credentials all over again with a new-look squad which includes just one player, the Dragons flanker Craig Hill, from the World Cup-winning side.
"We have a much, much less experienced squad now, those boys who played when we won the World Cup had played three or four years of sevens," said John.
"These are potential players, players who could become reasonable players. We are starting afresh, and it will be interesting to see how well they do in this environment."
Eight players are competing in their first international tournament and John said the sevens side are starting to gain recognition in a country where 15s rugby is everything. They have been able to centrally contract eight players since their World Cup triumph.
"The World Cup has done wonders for raising the profile of sevens in Wales," said John.
"For the first time we have be able to award caps. From now on, every player who represents Wales in sevens will get a cap, so the profile is raising.
"Having core contracted players also means we can be consistent in selection, which is the main thing."
@Email:pradley@thenational.ae
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Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,200 metres
Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Younis Kalbani (trainer)
5.30pm: UAE Arabian Derby (PA) | Prestige | Dh150,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Octave, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round 3 (PA) | Group 3 Dh300,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Harrab, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Ali
6.30pm: Emirates Championship (PA) | Group 1 | Dh1million | 2,200m
Winner: BF Mughader, Szczepan Mazur, Younis Al Kalbani
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (TB) | Group 3 | Dh380,000 | 2,200m
Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) | Conditions | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF La’Asae, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
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Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Company%20Profile
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In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
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- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.