DUBAI // David Clark, the Arabian Gulf captain, will have to think carefully about which dressing room he enters when his Dubai Exiles side arrive to take on Bahrain in Manama today.
The Scottish No 8 is one of the longest-serving players in Gulf representative rugby, and has called various places home across the region over the past decade.
He is just over two years into his second stint living in Bahrain, yet still chooses to travel to Dubai to play his home matches for the Exiles.
Unsurprisingly, he is no stranger to today's Danway Gulf Cup semi-final opponents.
A fortnight ago, Clark took the same flight back from Dubai as the travelling Bahraini side, who had been playing against the Exiles' city rivals, the Dragons.
He even hitched a lift in their team bus to the airport.
"That was rather interesting - there were a lot of songs directed at me and the Exiles," said Clark, who previously played Heineken Cup rugby for Edinburgh. Clark, who has also played for Abu Dhabi in the past, captained Bahrain for two seasons when his job with Ernst & Young first took him to the country.
With Bahrain now one of the leading clubs in regional rugby, and perched at the summit of the Gulf Premiership, he is not ruling out another change of clubs next year.
"I have given it a lot of thought, and they have a very good team right now," said Clark, whose own outstanding form is sure to be met with an equally imposing challenge in the form of Bahrain's powerhouse No 8, Fabian Bernard, this afternoon.
"But I have played some of my best rugby down in Dubai and it also helps in terms of playing representative rugby to play in Dubai.
"It could be a different story next year or the year after. Who will I play for? Let's see."
Abu Dhabi Harlequins continue their pursuit of a league and cup double when they host Dubai Dragons at Al Ghazal in the other semi-final this afternoon.
@Email:pradley@thenational.ae
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