Dubai Exiles Under 19s off to the races and winning the 2020 HSBC Rugby Festival Cup Final
Youth Rugby (U13, U14, U16 and U19)
“The oldest and most established Youth Rugby section in Dubai, the UAE and the Middle East”.
We hope that our youth rugby players will have a long, enjoyable and fruitful career in rugby both inside and outside of Dubai Exiles RFC.
The emphasis throughout these key development years is for the boys, and girls, to enjoy their rugby while at the same time expanding on the basic skills learnt in mini rugby. This is achieved through the benefit of experienced, qualified, and technically accurate coaching which furthers their aptitude and enjoyment of the game.
Our track record in developing young rugby players is unsurpassed in the UAE; we have seen several Exiles Mini and Youth players go on to gain representative honours for rugby playing nations such as England, Wales and Scotland not to mention the UAE itself (8 players gained national recognition at UAE U19 level in 2017/18, more than any other UAE Club).
Several our former youth rugby players have gone on to gain professional rugby contracts around the world including recently with Wasps and Northampton Saints in the English Premiership.
Our U19 Girls have been regular winners in their competition within the Dubai 7s too, something we are very proud of.
Dubai Exiles Under 19 youth rugby side getting a pre-final pep talk from Bryan Habana
Dubai Exiles Under 19 youth rugby 2020 HSBC Festival Cup Winners
The 2019/20 rugby season sees the Exiles introduce an Under 19 rugby side allowing the Exiles to provide rugby from mini all the way through to senior rugby. The Under 19 team will be coached by both Don Muir and DuRandt Gerber. The new Under 19 side will also enter this year’s 50th Anniversary Emirates Dubai Sevens Tournament.
Don requires little introduction. Don has had inarguable success at all age grades, always ensuring that the players under his supervision are technically accurate and well versed in different systems of attack and defence.
DuRandt Gerber is the current Exiles Outside Half (10). He has an exceptional playing career having played professionally for 10 years in Europe, been capped by Italy ‘A’, captained the UAE National Rugby Team in 2018 and has won everything there is to win in the UAE – the Emirates Dubai Sevens, UAE Premiership and the West Asia Premiership. An IRB Level 2 coach, DuRandt has also coached at club level and is currently pursuing his IRB Level 3 coaching qualification.
We’re incredibly proud to be able to offer this level of coaching experience and up-to-date playing knowledge to Youth Rugby in Dubai.
U13 Rugby
Under 13 rugby players develop an understanding of the full game and begin to develop tactical awareness including different attacking and defensive structures.
Dubai Exiles Under 13 after winning the Plate Final of the 2020 HSBC Rugby Festival
Exiles Under 13 youth rugby player motoring
Dubai Exiles Under 13 picking a line
Dubai Exiles youth rugby player through the gap
U14 to U19 Rugby
Players continuously develop their understanding of the full game and through both practice and game play 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.
Dubai Exiles Under 14 scoring against Abu Dhabi Harlequins at the 2020 HSBC Rugby Festival
Dubai Exiles Under 14 youth rugby side winners of the 2020 HSBC Plate Final
Dubai Exiles Under 16 rugby side after winning the 2020 HSBC Cup Final
Dubai Exiles Under 16 2020 HSBC Most Valuable Player award presented by HSBC Ambassador, Bryan Habana
Through a dedicated network of volunteer coaches, aided and assisted by our highly experienced Club Director of Rugby, Jacques Benade, also several senior international players with coaching and teaching qualifications, we aim to provide the highest standard of facilities and coaching for all our members.
We provide a superb rugby environment for all ages, including younger players from 2 years (2 to 5 years of age can enjoy the game through our partners ‘Rugbytots’) through to Under 19 and onwards into senior UAE Premiership and West Asia Premiership rugby.
Regular training is held in Dubai at the 7’s Rugby Stadium during the rugby season (September to April). Competitive matches are played locally in domestic leagues and internationally through participation in festivals and tours. In recent years some of our Mini and Youth rugby teams have toured England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, South Africa and Australia. They have also scored some noteworthy victories along the way as well as creating some wonderful and life-long memories and friends!
Contacts
Feel free to contact our Director of Rugby, Jacques Benade, should you need more information about playing rugby at the Dubai Exiles.