Two full minutes after the buzzer in the best game of the day on the main field at Dubai Sevens, Samuel de Jongh scored the try that maintained DESS College’s grip on the Gulf Under 19 Boys title. He also won some family bragging rights in the process.
Twelve months earlier, his older brother Steffan had lifted the same trophy, as DESS beat Dubai College, their perennial rivals in the Pitch 1 final.
With time up on Saturday night, DC held a 17-14 lead and their defence looked unbreachable. Yet the holders showed a maturity beyond their years as they retained possession, worked the ball up the field, and, finally, fashioned an opening in the corner to seal a 19-17 win.
Given what had gone into getting them to that point, and what was riding on it, with thousands roaring support from the stands, De Jongh acknowledged he was nervous as the pass came his way.
“When I got the ball, I thought I was going to mess it up,” De Jongh said. “I thought I was going to drop it somehow or run out [beyond the touchline] by accident.
“And then when I dived for the line and I put it on the floor, I couldn't believe it. I looked up at the score [on the big-screen], I was like: ‘We just won?’ It was so surreal.”
The match was a repeat of the final of the previous year, as well as a similar outcome. DESS College against DC has long been the Clasico of Gulf schools’ rugby; even the girls final was between the two of them, with DC taking an equally tense 14-12 win.
DESS v Dubai College Under 19 Girls final – in pictures
De Jongh said the latest win for the boys against such familiar opposition tasted sweet.
“When you beat them, it's nice,” he said. “But even if I didn't even know who the school was, that was one of the nicest moments in my life.
“In the tunnel before running out, I was just trying to focus. I was trying not to get overexcited, even though I did end up getting overexcited. But I was focused on the game and the objective of what we were going for.”
Joseph Wright, the DESS College captain, said the title was reward for the hard work his side have put in.
“I'm just so unbelievably proud of the boys,” Wright said. “We have had 10 weeks of training. Every Monday morning session, Wednesday night session, Friday morning session, everything we put into this, I just can't be more proud of the boys.”
Wright said the poise his side showed to retain hold of the ball so long after the buzzer was down to his side’s never-say-die spirit.
“That just shows why we want to be on this pitch, as everything went down to the wire,” Wright said.
“It is a team game, and everyone is working for each other. You work hard for yourself, you work harder for the man next to you, and I think that's what goes over the line in the end.
“When you get on the pitch it goes quiet, and then when you hear the crowd erupting when something happens. It's unreal; a once in a lifetime experience.”
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Results
1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Al Suhooj, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) 68,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m
Pakistanis%20at%20the%20ILT20%20
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
