Dubai Exiles RFC has an incredibly successful Player Pathway to UAE Premiership, West Asia Premiership and also International representative rugby for aspiring rugby players in Dubai and the UAE.
The Exiles’ long established, and highly respected, player pathway takes players from U5 all the way through to Senior Premiership and even International rugby. The 2019-20 Season saw 9 (nine) Dubai Exiles Under 19 players represent the United Arab Emirates at the Under 19 Asia Rugby Championship in Malaysia. 2021-22 saw many Dubai Exiles’ Youth Players get their first experience of UAE Premiership Rugby with several invited to the Senior UAE 7s Squad.
Kahurangi Emberson scores for Exiles’ Under 19s
Try time in the Exiles’ Under 19s 2020-21 season win over the Dubai Hurricanes (51 – 17)
Our Youth Rugby players, Under 14 to Under 19 continuously expand their understanding of the game of rugby. Through both practice and game play they also further develop and apply tactical awareness, different strategies, attack and defence structures and how to adjust and apply their skills and understanding as the game develops in front of them.
Hannes Kruger scores against Dubai Hurricanes Under 19s
Victor Pereira played in the UAE Premiership for The Exiles during the 2020-21 season
We recognise the importance of experienced and high level coaching in these age groups. Our Under 14s are coached by a highly experienced rugby player and PE Teacher from Dubai English Speaking College (DESC), our Under 15s and Under 16s are coached by former professional rugby player, Italy ‘A’ International, and current UAE Sevens assistant coach, DuRandt Gerber. The Dubai Exiles Under 19s benefit from training with the Senior Men‘s squad on a Monday and Wednesday evening taking advantage of the directions of Senior Men’s coach, Jacques Benade.
During his playing days, Exiles‘ Director of Rugby, Jacques Benade, played for Natal Sharks, the Blue Bulls and also captained South Africa ‘A’. He then headed to Treviso in Italy where he played in the Heineken Cup, helping defeat English Premiership side Harlequins along the way.
Before coming to Dubai, Jacques coached professionally in Ireland with Malone for 5 years and went on to coach AIB Division 1 side Ballymena. He is now Director of Rugby at the Dubai Exiles, Director of Rugby at Dubai College and Assistant coach to the UAE National side with Apollo Perelini.
