DUBAI // Two historic rivals who spent a season vying to decide which was in the ascendant will have to wait for another week to be split in the region’s newest competition.
The two leading sides in UAE shared a draw in the opening match of the Asia Rugby Western Clubs Champions League at The Sevens, Dubai.
Luke Stevenson touched down two tries as part of a 23-point haul, as Abu Dhabi Harlequins came from behind to tie with Dubai Exiles, last season’s double winners.
If either of these sides are to win the first available trophy of the new campaign, it will be decided by how they each fare against Kandy this week.
Harlequins get the first shot, at Zayed Sports City on Tuesday, before Exiles welcome the Sri Lankan champions to The Sevens on Friday.
This tournament may be termed a Champions League, but that has already become something of a misnomer.
The fact it has already been reduced by one team since its inaugural edition last season, after the Kazakhstan champions opted out, has diluted its grandeur somewhat.
Both the UAE entrants downplayed its relevance in the lead up, too, suggesting they were regarding the matches as standard pre-season friendlies.
“Friendly” fixtures between these two do not really exist, though. Both clubs regularly talk about a healthy respect between them. There is a noticeable dose of animosity between the sets of players, too, though.
“We were looking at it as a pre-season game where we wanted to bring a few new lads in, but you can’t really look at a game against them that way,” Stevenson said of the rivalry.
“We are going to be playing against them three or four times this year, and whoever got the better of this game was going to get a bit of confidence going into the next.
“As soon as we got here, we were taking it seriously. Both teams played it down beforehand, but we knew it was going to be a tough game.”
If there were any story pointers ahead of the domestic season, it was that both sides have strengthened up in the summer recruitment market.
Most notably, Michael Sole was conspicuous in the Exiles midfield on his return to the club, as he scored the opening try of the game.
Jacques Benade, the Exiles coach, was satisfied with what he saw from his champion side.
“You can talk to your players, and try to talk them down - but it is Exiles v Harlequins, there were too many things that happened last year for this to be a normal friendly,” Benade said.
“There are other teams who will definitely be picking up, but I think Quins will definitely be there at the end of the season, and hopefully we can get better as well.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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