DUBAI // Renier Els, the former UAE captain, will return to the Abu Dhabi Harlequins line-up for just the third time in the calendar year to aid their Gulf Men’s League title defence.
The defending champions will run out on Pitch 2 on Thrusday afternoon with a side much changed from that which won the Khanjar Trophy 12 months ago.
Jeremy Manning, the player-coach back then, is absent with a hip injury. Iziq Foa’i is working his way back from a knee complaint, while Ed Lewsey, the veteran of that team, will be playing for Conquistadors in the Gulf Social instead.
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With a raft of other injuries to contend with, they are grateful for the chance to recall one of the outstanding players of the club’s recent past.
Mike McFarlane, the Quins coach, had hoped to be able to call on Els for XVs duty as well this season, but the South African has only managed to play twice after being sent to work abroad instead.
Els, an abrasive loose-forward who has been a UAE national team regular when fit and available, was conspicuous in Quins’ warm-up friendly against Fiji on Sunday.
The fixture has become a regular part of both sides’ preparations for the Dubai Sevens over the past three years, but this was the first time the match involved tackling. Previously, the matches were played in the touch format.
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With a pool that also includes Jebel Ali Dragons, the dominant force in Gulf sevens over the past decade, the Fiji match was ideal preparation, according to McFarlane.
“Having a run out against Fiji is pretty much perfect,” McFarlane said. “Playing the Dragons, it is good to get a fixture against a top side out of the way in the group stage.
“The players are buzzing for it, especially the new boys who have been around and maybe only watched it.
“The rugby we have been trying to play in XVs, hopefully some of the structures will just fall in to our sevens play.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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