DUBAI // Cup winners. Sevens winners. Champions of the UAE. Champions of West Asia. And in both the men’s and women’s game, too. Adding in the second-tier conference title to boot is just showing off.
If there was any debate left as to who is the region’s rugby powerhouse, Abu Dhabi Harlequins settled it by clinching a fifth trophy to cap a perfect season, in front of the TV cameras at Dubai Sports City.
The famous five consists of the Western Clubs Champions League, West Asia Premiership and Cup, Dubai Rugby Sevens, and now the UAE Premiership.
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■ 'Our dream has come true': A day of firsts for UAE rugby
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The side from the capital might have crushed the competition on the scoreboard this season, but, for the third week running, the had to battle for it after giving away an early lead.
Two tries from Emosi Vecanuau and an 18-point haul for man of the match Luke Stevenson, however, was enough to set the seal on the season for Harlequins.
“I was nervous because it was a big occasion,” said Ben Bolger, the Harlequins captain.
“We have the opportunity to play each week with our mates, and I was more nervous about letting mates down [than playing in front of TV cameras on finals day].
“A big pat on the back for the UAE Rugby for providing this occasion. They have really built it up. It was a great day, and a good touch to have it on TV.
“In the past four and a half years, that is the best it has got. That final was tough. Dragons were outstanding.”
The fact the game was televised added to the experience, according to Stevenson.
“It caught us off guard a little,” Stevenson said of the last-minute information that the final was to be played in front of the cameras.
“Initially we thought we were playing at home, then we were told it was here. Then we were told there was going to be TV cameras, which is unusual.
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Read more
■ Abu Dhabi Harlequins defeat Bahrain in West Asia Cup final to win trophy No 4
■ England Six Nations winners lend a hand at Dubai Hurricanes coaching clinic
■ Abu Dhabi Harlequins set for 'big push' in bid to complete clean sweep of rugby titles
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“We know from the games we have got through this year that we are always going to be in games, and that we have the ability to win games if they are tight.
“I was pretty relaxed coming into the game. To be honest, I was a little bit worried going into the last 15 minutes, I thought we were starting to lag a bit.
“But then it picked up again. We went 50 yards to score in the corner. It goes to show, every time you think the boys are starting to take it easy, they put their foot on it again.”
Ross Samson, the Dragons captain, said he was proud of his side’s performance on the big stage.
“Finals rugby is very different to the day to day league stuff that we go through,” Samson said.
“There was definitely a bit more of an edge. We had absolutely nothing to lose.
“The boys were pumped from 1pm when we watched our threes win their game, which set the tone for us. We definitely raised our game for the big occasion.”
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 30, Jebel Ali Dragons 20
Harlequins
Tries: Vecanuau 2, Stevenson
Cons: Stevenson 2, Brown
Pens: Stevenson 3
Dragons
Tries: Naisau, Reyal
Cons: Bell 2
Pens: Bell 2
Man of the match: Luke Stevenson (Abu Dhabi Harlequins)
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
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SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
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Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
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Hometown: Dubai
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If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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