Paul Radley
DUBAI // Xodus Wasps Dubai are craving some long overdue success in the UAE Premiership.
Dubai's youngest top-flight club went winless in the competition last year.
That unwelcome streak extended to Friday's opener against Jebel Ali Dragons, as they went down 31-5 in a feisty encounter with the defending champions.
For one of their number, in particular, a desire for some good cheer on the pitches at The Sevens, Dubai, extends way beyond the club’s current winless run.
In fact, Ollie Turton’s gripe with the place even predates his arrival in the city last June, when he relocated from the UK to take up a role in the fitness industry.
Two years ago, the powerful outside-centre was aspiring to a professional career in the sport when he arrived at the Dubai Rugby Sevens as part of the England development sevens side.
Playing in the quarter-finals of the international invitational tournament, he sustained an injury to the meniscus in his knee, which effectively ended his chances of a career in the game.
Yet he was still happy to move here this year and return to those same fields as a new recruit of Wasps, who are one of a group of clubs who play their home games at The Sevens.
“I suffered my knee injury here, but I’ve come back,” Turton said.
“It was literally just a sidestep, and my meniscus slipped. In terms of the pain, I have had worse.”
In his early career in the game, Turton played alongside the likes of James Cracknell, John Brake and Sam Edgerley, who have all tasted success in the UAE with the England side.
Given his pedigree, he was a positive acquisition for an upwards-looking club this summer.
“Wasps ties in best with my work commitments,” said the fitness instructor. “Where we are training is bang in the middle of Dubai, which is best for me. It is easy to get to.
“I am doing 100 miles per day, so I don’t want to be driving an extra hour going back and forth to rugby training, too.”
Against Dubai Exiles on Thursday, Turton will lead the effort of a Wasps backline that has a far steelier appearance than last season, with fellow summer recruit Jaymes Chapman in line for a first Premiership start.
"He is a former semi-professional player who is very, very strong and fit," Martin Southern, the Wasps director of rugby, said of Turton.
“He will add a lot to our defence and our counter-attack. He is a big unit who will help us get over the gain line, and he is a very humble, nice bloke as well.”
Wasps will look to avenge their opening day loss, and try to claim some local bragging rights – their home pitches are about five metres apart – when they face the Exiles at The Sevens.
pradley@thenational.ae
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
Movie: Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster 3
Producer: JAR Films
Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Jimmy Sheirgill, Mahie Gill, Chitrangda Singh, Kabir Bedi
Rating: 3 star
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SPECS
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
Dubai World Cup prize money
Group 1 (Purebred Arabian) 2000m Dubai Kahayla Classic - $750,000
Group 2 1,600m(Dirt) Godolphin Mile - $750,000
Group 2 3,200m (Turf) Dubai Gold Cup – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Turf) Al Quoz Sprint – $1,000,000
Group 2 1,900m(Dirt) UAE Derby – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Dirt) Dubai Golden Shaheen – $1,500,000
Group 1 1,800m (Turf) Dubai Turf – $4,000,000
Group 1 2,410m (Turf) Dubai Sheema Classic – $5,000,000
Group 1 2,000m (Dirt) Dubai World Cup– $12,000,000
RACE SCHEDULE
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm
Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm
Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm
SPECS
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The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Happy Tenant
Started: January 2019
Co-founders: Joe Moufarrej and Umar Rana
Based: Dubai
Sector: Technology, real-estate
Initial investment: Dh2.5 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 4,000
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)