Exiles vs Dragons 2024-25 Pre-Season Friendly

The Dubai Exiles hosted current UAE Premiership champions, the Dragons at The Sevens Stadium on Saturday evening in a warm-up match for the upcoming UAE Premiership and West Asia Super Rugby season.

For both sides it was a good opportunity to stress their squads and have a good look at their summer transfer window signings, and in the case of the Exiles, pour over the many Exiles’ Under 18s who qualify to play senior rugby for the very first time.

Shane Weweje gets ready for kick off

Lukas Waddington spots an ice-cream van

Epeli Davetawalu back in an Exiles‘ shirt

For both sides, the hangover and cobwebs from the previous season coupled with four months without a competitive game was evident. It was a full twenty minutes before the opening half settled down into a recognisable shape. When some structure did make itself known it was Exiles‘ newcomer and former Abu Dhabi Harlequin, Gary Andrews, that opened the scoring.

Gary, who was coached by Exiles‘ Head Coach Jacques Benade when they were both in Northern Ireland at Malone RFC, twisted his way over the Dragons’ try line after another summer signing, outside half Lewis Burns, put a kick along the ground behind the Dragons‘ defence. Exiles‘ wing, Michael Stubbs, making his first appearance since an awful injury against the Hurricanes in November 2021, showed everybody he still packed plenty of pace to beat the Dragons‘ defender to the ball.

Another Scott, scrum half, James Troup, was quickly to the ensuing ruck and delivered the pass for Gary Andrews to step and twist across the line for the first try of the game. Converted by Conor Kennedy. 7 – 0 to the Exiles.

Gary Andrews on his way for his second try of the match

Just like a London bus, after waiting for twenty minutes for the first score of the game, another one came along a few minutes later. Exiles‘ hooker, Moeneeb Galant, vacuumed up an errant Dragons‘ lineout on the half way and quickly made ten meters before being dragged to the ground. UAE captain, Matt Mills, filled in at scrum half before Lewis Burns stepped and delivered a perfect pop pass to send Gary Andrews through the Dragons‘ defensive line.

After easily rounding the Dragons‘ full back, Gary dabbed down under the posts for his second try in an Exiles‘ shirt. Converted by Conor Kennedy. 14 – 0 to the Exiles.

Michael Stubbs still knows his way to the try line

With the London buses now queueing up at The Sevens Stadium drop-off Michael Stubbs was the next to rattle the scoreboard in the Exiles‘ favour. Some loose passing from the Dragons concluded with the ball bouncing into the hands of Exiles‘ Justin Walsh. After beating two Dragons‘ defenders ‘Walshy’ was brought to ground inside the Dragons‘ 22.

Epeli Davetawalu, revelling in being back on Pitch 7 at The Sevens, was the first player to the breakdown and delivered to ball to Moeneeb Galant. A hard carry from second row, Shane Weweje, and the ball was moved from left to right and when the ‘snap’ came, there were just too many black shirts for the Dragons to deal with. ‘Stubbsy’ still had a bit of work to do, but he rounded his defender in a tight channel and crossed to score. Unconverted. 19 – 0 to the Exiles.

Conor Kennedy with a conversion attempt

Lewis Burns almost bursts through

The final try of the half was the simplest, but easily the most attractive. From a lineout, five meters in their own half, the Exiles swept the ball from right to left. Fly-half, Lewis Burns, delivered a pass to centre Gary Andrews that left three Dragons‘ defenders in no-mans-land. Michael Stubbs brought his impressive pace into the backline and put Zimbabwean fullback, Conor Kennedy, into acres of space.

With a loan Dragons‘ defender having to deal with three oncoming Exiles the outcome was inevitable. Draw and pass and Justin Walsh was away to the try line and under the sticks. Converted by Conor Kennedy. 26 – 0 to the Exiles. Half Time.

Exiles‘ Head Coach, Jacques Benade, clearly happy about the first half performance

Pre-season matches are always difficult to predict as each team’s balance of experience and inexperience is difficult to judge. Despite the Dragons loading up their second half squad with their more experienced players, including former Jersey Reds and Northampton Saints scrum-half, James Mitchel, and Zebre outside-half, Antonio Rizzi, it was the Exiles who sharply pulled up the handbrake on their progress by giving away a series of unnecessary, and quite frankly, dumb penalties.

Newcomer, Francois Myburgh, started the second forty minutes at scrum-half

A series of penalties awarded by referee, Brayden Hudson, killed any chance of continuing the momentum from the end of the first half. Amongst the ten minute whistle fest the Dragons bulldozed their way over the Exiles‘ try line from a lineout and their opening score of the game. Converted. 26 – 7 to the Exiles.

Stephen Ferguson carried hard all game

Kiwi, Jesse Te Wharau, played his first game in four years

With the Exiles giving away penalties like confetti at a wedding, the Dragons‘ long and scaly tails were definitely up. Andrew Pybus received a yellow card for something amongst the din of shrill whistle noises and the Dragons were soon in for their second score. Converted. 26 – 14 to the Exiles.

With the Exiles completely void of any defensive shape the Dragons soon crossed for their third, and luckily, final try of the game. While pressing hard at the Exiles‘ try line a bullet of a pass from James Mitchel sent their centre crashing over the line. Converted. 26 – 21 to the Exiles. Final Score.

Teenager, Darren Etherington, came close to scoring a couple of times

Both sets of coaches will have learned a lot about their squads for the upcoming UAE Premiership and West Asia Super Rugby Season. One thing is for certain – it’s definitely going to be an exciting one!

DUBAI EXILES RFC V DUBAI DRAGONS RFC

West Asia Super Rugby  / UAE Premiership pre-season friendly (21st September 2024) – The Sevens Stadium