ABU DHABI // The new man in charge of rugby at the British School Al Khubairat (BSAK) may have a tough act to follow, but he is already highly regarded within the corridors of power in UAE rugby.
Ed Lewsey, who will take over from Lyn Jones as the director of rugby at BSAK in September, was signed as a player by Ian Bremner, the chief executive of the Rugby Association, when he was in charge of Exeter Chiefs, who now play in the top-tier of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership.
Bremner, whose remit now includes the development of the school game in the Emirates, thinks Lewsey's recruitment is a boon for rugby in the capital.
"Ed was a tremendous servant of Exeter, his energy was boundless, and he was a great addition to the changing room," Bremner said.
"He built up a reputation very quickly as a good [PE and history] teacher.
"I am confident in saying he will be very fondly remembered at his former clubs because he gives 100 per cent-plus to everything he does.
"It is a boost for schools rugby in the UAE, which is clearly a big focus of ours, especially in Abu Dhabi."
Lewsey, a scrum-half-come-winger, studied to become a teacher while playing Championship-level rugby in England. Lewsey is the younger brother of former England player Josh.
"Ed has all the experience and skill it takes to build on Lyn's work here," Paul Coackley, the principal of BSAK, said.
"As a professional player he knows the game inside out. This, together with his experience as a teacher, makes him the ideal candidate to coach school rugby players and to continue the strategic development of the games at schools level in Abu Dhabi."
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
