UAE rugby young players to watch

  • Nicholas Fritz - The jewel of UAE schoolboy rugby in recent years. He has left DESS College to pursue the game in South Africa, but remains UAE qualified. Pawan Singh for The National
    Nicholas Fritz - The jewel of UAE schoolboy rugby in recent years. He has left DESS College to pursue the game in South Africa, but remains UAE qualified. Pawan Singh for The National
  • Mohammed Ali - A product of the UAE Shaheen programme, the rapid wing is the most advanced Emirati player. Impressed to the extent he was included in the national team’s trips to Sri Lanka and Namibia. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Mohammed Ali - A product of the UAE Shaheen programme, the rapid wing is the most advanced Emirati player. Impressed to the extent he was included in the national team’s trips to Sri Lanka and Namibia. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Heinrich Du Plessis - The national team coach, Benade, knows all about the talents of the young Dubai Exiles centre from the role he has only just given up as director of rugby at UAE’s oldest club. Photo: Jon Ebbitt
    Heinrich Du Plessis - The national team coach, Benade, knows all about the talents of the young Dubai Exiles centre from the role he has only just given up as director of rugby at UAE’s oldest club. Photo: Jon Ebbitt
  • Mudiwa Mtemererwa - The No 8 could add power to the national team’s back row. Caught the eye in back-to-back final appearances for Dubai College at the Dubai Sevens. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Mudiwa Mtemererwa - The No 8 could add power to the national team’s back row. Caught the eye in back-to-back final appearances for Dubai College at the Dubai Sevens. Ruel Pableo for The National
  • George Hipperson - Could play in the midfield alongside Jack Stapley at both club and international in the future, having joined Nottingham after moving from DESS College to the UK for university. Photo: Jon Ebbitt
    George Hipperson - Could play in the midfield alongside Jack Stapley at both club and international in the future, having joined Nottingham after moving from DESS College to the UK for university. Photo: Jon Ebbitt
  • Jamie Annand - Another Dubai Exile exiled to the UK, the fly half was namechecked ahead of the Asian Five Nations by coach Jacques Benade as being one to watch. Photo: Jon Ebbitt
    Jamie Annand - Another Dubai Exile exiled to the UK, the fly half was namechecked ahead of the Asian Five Nations by coach Jacques Benade as being one to watch. Photo: Jon Ebbitt
  • Aaron Dubois - Had a troubled start to international rugby, having been sent off on debut against Germany. But the Dubai Hurricanes full back could have a big effect on the side over the coming years. Christopher Pike for The National
    Aaron Dubois - Had a troubled start to international rugby, having been sent off on debut against Germany. But the Dubai Hurricanes full back could have a big effect on the side over the coming years. Christopher Pike for The National
  • Angus Urquhart - Another DESS College graduate, who is heading to Hartpury College in the UK – the alma mater of players like Ellis Genge, Louis Rees-Zammit, and Catherine Richards, the Abu Dhabi-raised Wales and Great Britain sevens player. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Angus Urquhart - Another DESS College graduate, who is heading to Hartpury College in the UK – the alma mater of players like Ellis Genge, Louis Rees-Zammit, and Catherine Richards, the Abu Dhabi-raised Wales and Great Britain sevens player. Ruel Pableo for The National
  • Tom Battiston - Apollo Perelini, the performance director, oversaw Battiston’s development from mini all the way up to senior international rugby. The young fly half is now at university in Brisbane. Photo: Dave Battiston
    Tom Battiston - Apollo Perelini, the performance director, oversaw Battiston’s development from mini all the way up to senior international rugby. The young fly half is now at university in Brisbane. Photo: Dave Battiston
  • Henry Turner - A former captain of an outstanding crop of players who emerged from JESS, he is now studying at university in the UK. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Henry Turner - A former captain of an outstanding crop of players who emerged from JESS, he is now studying at university in the UK. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Martin Mangwiro - An anomaly in this list: he moved to the UAE as an adult, and has yet to qualify for the national team. But he would make a massive difference judged by the impact he has made as a loose forward for Dubai Hurricanes. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Martin Mangwiro - An anomaly in this list: he moved to the UAE as an adult, and has yet to qualify for the national team. But he would make a massive difference judged by the impact he has made as a loose forward for Dubai Hurricanes. Ruel Pableo for The National