Matthew Pewtner hopes his appointment as director of rugby at Dubai Hurricanes aged just 29 will help with his ultimate aim of returning to professional rugby one day – this time as a coach.
The former Wales international sevens player was promoted from his role as assistant coach at the Hurricanes after Mike Wernham vacated the position last week.
Pewtner has been part of the coaching staff at the club since arriving in Dubai in 2017 to take up a teaching job.
Six months earlier, he had seen his professional career ended aged just 25 because of concussion.
When Wernham privately expressed his intention to step down earlier this year, Pewtner was glad to be considered for the role.
“I had the sense Mike was wanting to spend more time with his family, and in January we started to chat about things,” said Pewtner, who formally interviewed for the role at the end of February.
“I have been involved with the Canes for three years now. I have enjoyed all my time with the club, and they have been great to me, helping settle in to Dubai.
“To move on to become director of rugby was the next logical step.
"I’ve been coaching now for four seasons and have done a pretty decent job, I think.
“Taking this next step is good for my progression as a coach.”
Pewtner says he aspires to a return to the elite game at some point, and hopes he can prove his value at the Hurricanes first.
“My next goal is to transition into the professional environment,” Pewtner said.
“Having played at the top level for 10 years, that is the sort of environment I want to go back into.
"Obviously, it would be in a different capacity now, as it wouldn’t be as a player, unfortunately.
“As a coach, that is the next step. Aged 29, with my Level 3 [coaching certificate] I feel like I am in a good position now to kick on and move towards that.
“First of all, I need to prove my worth as the DOR with Hurricanes.”
Wernham expects his successor to thrive given the evidence of the past three seasons as his understudy.
“My announcement timing was to make sure Matt had enough time in the off season to get the coaching team around him that he wants,” Wernham said.
“Retention and recruitment of players is always really important, and I will still be helping out on that front over the next couple of months.
“I am really, really happy that there has been an internal appointment.
“Matt has a great coaching pedigree and a really good relationship with the players, and their family members.”
Hurricanes finished a season that was curtailed prematurely because of coronavirus as third-placed in the West Asia Premiership, and runners up in the UAE Premiership.
With the experience of playing World Series rugby for Wales in the past, Pewtner has also helped plotting title wins for the Hurricanes in each of the past two Dubai Rugby Sevens.
He says the next task is to carry their success from the abridged format over to the 15-a-side game.
“Mike has created an environment at the Canes where everyone enjoys coming to training,” Pewtner said.
“That is actually difficult to do. There are so many different personalities, and so many different backgrounds. What one person might enjoy might not appeal to everyone.
“Mike created a really good culture where everyone wants to do well for the club.
“I want to maintain that, and the fun side, while also focusing on the performance side of things.
“When Mike was doing it, I was able to step away from some of the difficult conversations, but I have got experience in doing that, too.
“I think that, as long as the players respect you as a coach, hopefully they will respect your decisions, so long as you can justify them.”
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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MATCH INFO
West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
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- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
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
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
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Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
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Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
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The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
