DUBAI // Al Ain Amblers hope to cap a season of unprecedented union success by excelling in league, as the new 13-a-side campaign begins at Dubai Sports City on Friday afternoon.
No club at any level of domestic rugby has been as dominant as Amblers were in winning the UAE Conference this season. The Garden City side, fuelled by a core of outstanding Fijian players, won each of their regular season matches to race to promotion to the UAE Premiership.
Now they hope to replicate that form in a code to which few of their players have been exposed to, starting against Xodus Wasps Dubai today.
“To have a record of 17-0 over a season, with 17 bonus points, is amazing and I don’t think it has been done before,” said Keleto Dyer, the Amblers league coach. “It was the Conference cup and obviously that is not as big as Premiership rugby, but it is a good stepping stone for us.
“We bridged the gap to the big clubs in sevens, we beat most of them, and that shows we can match them.
“Rugby league is a different concept and it is not about winning it, it is more about showing we can match teams like Abu Dhabi Harlequins.”
Amblers will have the benefit of home advantage twice over the course of the four-week season. The club have offered their Palm Sports Resort home ground for hire for finals day free of charge to organisers.
“We have our Fijian contingent to spice our team,” Dyer said, which they didn’t the last time the Rugby League Cup was staged two years ago, “and we think we can give these other sides a run for their money.”
Another club who played second-tier union this season, Dubai Sharks, have recruited players from neighbouring sides, such as Jebel Ali Dragons and Arabian Knights.
“We also have a contingent of league guys who don’t play union and are not involved in the rugby scene at all,” Ray Shaw, the Sharks coach, said.
“That has been one of the challenges, and we have had a month to get everyone fit since the end of the union season.”
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