Exiles’ stalwart and #premiership hooker Dave Gairn will be the Head Coach of the Under 16 Girls for the upcoming 2024-25 UAE rugby season.
Dave, a PE Teacher and Head of Rugby at Nord Anglia International School Dubai, hails from Southport, just north of Liverpool in England. He joined the Exiles in 2017 and has been a regular feature in the Exiles’ front row ever since.
As soon as Dave qualified, under residency, to represent the UAE on the #internationalrugby stage, he quickly found himself selected to pull on the national shirt. Dave was on the plane for last summer’s (July 2023) Asia Rugby Championship two match qualifier series against Pakistan in the Punjab Stadium in Lahore. A series in which the UAE won both games to qualify for the 2024 Asia Rugby Championship.
Dave’s quick wit makes him extremely popular with his teammates and members, young and no so young, throughout the club.
With Dubai Exiles RFC Dave has won the UAE Premiership title on multiple occasions, he was also an important part of the UAE team that finished second, behind Hong Kong China, in this year’s Asia Rugby Championship.
Under 16 Girls Rugby was a new addition to the UAE Mini & Youth rugby calendar last season. In its first year, 2023-24, Dave coached the Exiles U16 Girls, in the Emirates Dubai 7s – Youth Sport Festival and to the UAE ‘B’ League title in 2023-24 Finals in Al Ain.
We can’t wait to see Dave, and the Exiles Under 16 Girls rugby teams on the pitches at The Sevens Stadium throughout the 2024-25 rugby season!
We’re sure you’re all going to have a fantastic 2024-25!