Meet the Exiles’ Coaches – Matt Mills

Continuing the ‘Meet the Exiles’ Coaches‘ theme today we introduce you to Exiles’ Under 11 Head Coach, Matt Mills.

Matt, a PE Teacher at Dubai English speaking College (DESC) joined the Dubai Exiles in 2015. The 2022-23 season will be the seventh season that Matt has played top flight rugby in the UAE Premiership and West Asia Premiership with Dubai Exiles RFC.

Matt on the charge against the Hurricanes in 2022

Calling the lineout in the UAE Premiership Final 2022

Matt hails from Northampton, England. It was there that he pulled on the number 6 shirt for the Old Northamptonians, a famous old club, founded in 1922, that plays rugby in England’s Midlands 1 East which will become Regional 2 East Midlands in September 2022 as part of the RFU’s restructuring.

When Matt arrived in Dubai it didn’t take him long to make an impact on both the UAE and West Asia Premierships, winning those competitions with Dubai Exiles RFC on several occasions. Matt has also won the Emirates Dubai 7s with the Dubai Exiles on two occasions most recently the December 2021 tournament.

Matt captained the UAE to the Men’s Asia Rugby 7s Trophy title in Phuket, Thailand in April 2022. Left to right: DuRandt Gerber, Matt Mills, Apollo Perelini.

It was no surprise to anyone that Matt was invited into the UAE National Team as soon as he qualified to represent his adopted home. Matt was one of seven Dubai Exiles players who helped the UAE 15s team gain promotion to Asia Rugby Division 1 in 2019. In April this year he captained the UAE Sevens team to the Men’s Asia Rugby 7s Trophy title in Phuket, Thailand.

Matt was one of five Dubai Exiles that went to Phuket with Apollo Perelini‘s UAE squad. He was joined by teenagers Alfie Wilson, Marcus Kruger and Hannes Kruger as well as UAE Assistant Coach, and Dubai Exiles Under 16s coach, DuRandt Gerber.

Flying high in the UAE Premiership

Matt is an incredibly hard working player both on and off the rugby field, he also gave up his time on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings at The Sevens Stadium to coach the Exiles‘ Under 10s throughout the 2021-22 season. He’s an incredibly popular player with his teammates and Exiles supporters. Matt is very much a favourite with his young charges and their parents since he first started coaching the squad as Under 9s.

Rugby in the UAE is thirsty work!