Exiles ‘Super Twos’ coach, George Perkins, announced the squad that will travel to Saar on Saturday to take on Bahrain in UAE Division 1.
The squad, who will jet off to the Gulf island with Gulf Air early on Saturday morning features a number of players who have come through the Dubai Exiles‘ mini & youth pathway.
Twelve of the twenty who are travelling have come through the Exiles’ mini & youyh rugby system, several of whom have already represented the UAE at Under 18, Under 20, and full senior international.
Alessio Coviello, Heinrich Du Plessis, and Gus Urquhart recently pulled on the UAE Under 18 shirt at the Asia Rugby Emirates Under 18 Sevens which were held in Malaysia at the end of September.
Scrum-half, Fourie Du Preez, represented the UAE at the Asia Rugby Under 20 Championship in Uzbekistan in November 22, and this season has represented UAE rugby in the elite Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Sevens in both Korea and China.
Prop, Lukas Waddington, brings a wealth of experience to the young side. Lukas, who is sponsored by Elstead Lighting for the 2024-25 season, joined the Dubai Exiles in 2002 aged just ten years.
Wearing the same club shirt for 22 years is a remarkable achievement in the UAE, or anywhere else in the rugby playing world for that matter.
Lukas has represented the UAE in countless international matches including the resent Asia Rugby Championship games against Hong Kong China at Hong Kong Football Club, and both the Republic of Korea, and Malaysia at The Sevens Stadium in the summer.
The side will be captained by another long time servant to Dubai Exiles RFC, William Simmonite.
Good luck gents! Have a fantastic trip and we’ll see you back in Dubai on Saturday night!
