Pat Benson, the coach of Dubai Sports City Eagles, says the target for the UAE’s newest club in their debut season is to prove they belong in the West Asia Premiership.
The decision to enter the Eagles straight into the top tier of domestic rugby within months of them being formed this summer has attracted some criticism.
A number of clubs voiced concerns about the depth of infrastructure and player numbers at the new team, and questioned whether they would be ready to compete with the established order.
Benson, who oversaw a first on-field training session on Monday which involved more than 40 players, said the Eagles are under pressure to prove themselves, but he believes they are capable.
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“The only aspiration I have got is to show that we belong in that league,” said Benson, a former professional with Gloucester and Worcester in the UK.
“If we do that, we have ticked the boxes. From the small amount of footage I have seen, it looks like a very competitive league. Each of the teams have a good base of quality of players.
“If we can show we belong in that environment, it is a massive tick for the club.”
Benson, who has been coaching youth players in the year he has spent in Dubai to date, expects the player base at the Eagles to expand, given the standard of facilities on offer at Sports City.
“From my experience back at home, even in terms of National League club, I’m blown away by the quality of facilities here,” Benson said.
“The pitch is high quality, as are the floodlights. I played at some clubs – at a good level – who didn’t have floodlights, so some fixtures couldn’t be fulfilled across the course of a season.
“I’m blown away by so much that I’ve seen in Dubai. It seems like with anything, when they want to do something, they go in for it wholeheartedly to try to make it special.”
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Sean Carey, the UAE international who set up the Eagles, reckons his side will be capable of creating some upsets in the Premiership.
“Pat is here to help people improve, and that is what we want to offer – a good quality of rugby but also to make it enjoyable,” Carey said.
“Our goal for the first year is just to find our feet. We want to give some of these guys who have only played Conference rugby before the chance to test themselves at Premiership level.
“I definitely think we have the right experienced players who are able to bring on the players who are new to the league.
“I think we might be there to cause some upsets this year.”
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Director: Jared Hess
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Rating: 3/5
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Director: Zack Snyder
Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera
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World Test Championship table
1 India 71 per cent
2 New Zealand 70 per cent
3 Australia 69.2 per cent
4 England 64.1 per cent
5 Pakistan 43.3 per cent
6 West Indies 33.3 per cent
7 South Africa 30 per cent
8 Sri Lanka 16.7 per cent
9 Bangladesh 0
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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
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
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
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
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A foster couple or family must:
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- not be younger than 25 years old
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Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
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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