Dubai exiles girls rugby overview dubai exiles rugby club



Dubai Exiles Girls’ Rugby Overview

From this September (2021/22 season) the girls’ rugby groups and leagues will take the following format:

Dubai Exiles Girls’ Rugby Overview

“The oldest and most established Mini & Youth rugby section in the Middle East”. This is the entry level to what will hopefully become a long and fruitful career in Rugby both inside and outside of Dubai Exiles RFC.

The emphasis throughout is for everybody to enjoy their rugby while at the same time learning and expanding basic skills and advancing their aptitude for the game.

From this September (2021/22 season) the girls’ rugby groups and leagues will take the following format:

  • Under 12 Quick Rip
  • Under 14 Quick Rip
  • Under 15 Contact
  • Under 18 Contact
Pitch 1 final at the Emirates Dubai Sevens 2021 in front of 15,000 spectators
Dubai Exiles Under 19 Girls celebrate their 43 – 0 win in the Final of 2021 Emirates Dubai 7s

Quick Rip rugby is a minimal contact form of the sport and introduces the basics of gameplay in a far less ‘combative’ environment.

Rugby 7s is the seven-a-side, full contact, version of the game played by both Under 19s and senior women’s rugby.

The new structure should make rugby more appealing and more accessible to many girls who would like to get involved with the sport in Dubai. More experienced players will also benefit from a clearly structured and age-relevant pathway through to Under 19, Senior, and possibly, international representative rugby.

Girls’ Quick Rip rugby
Exiles u19 Girls Rugby squad at the HSBC Rugby Festival 2020

Our track record in developing young rugby players is unsurpassed in the UAE; we have seen several Exiles M&Y alumni go on to gain representative honours including in England, Wales, Scotland and the UAE itself (8 players gained national recognition at UAE U19 level in 2017/18 and 2020/21, more than any other UAE Club). A number of our alumni have gone on to gain professional rugby contracts around the world including recently with Wasps and Northampton Saints in England. Our U19 Girls have been regular winners in their competition within the Dubai 7s too, something we are very proud of, and our Girls rugby teams at U12,U15, and U19 levels are a thriving and growing force in girls rugby in the UAE.

Through a dedicated network of volunteer coaches, aided and assisted by our highly experienced Club Director of Rugby, Jacques Benade, and a number of senior players with coaching and teaching qualifications, we aim to provide the highest standard of facilities and coaching for all our members. We provide a superb rugby environment for all ages of younger players from 4 years through to Under 19.

Exiles Under 12 Girls Rugby squad after winning the 2019 Abu Dhabi Cup final
Winners are Grinners

Regular training is held in Dubai at the 7’s Rugby Grounds (see map below) during the Rugby season (September to April). Matches are played locally in domestic leagues and internationally through participation in festivals and tours. In recent years some of our M&Y teams have toured England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, South Africa and Australia, and scored some noteworthy victories along the way as well as creating some wonderful and life long memories!