DUBAI // Wayne Marsters, who has stepped down as coach of the Arabian Gulf, hopes the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union (AGRFU) take his resignation as a chance to reorganise the game in the region. The former Abu Dhabi captain has relinquished all ties with the AGRFU to focus on coaching the Dubai Exiles club, and has urged the union to appoint a director of rugby in his place.
"This [the decision to step down] will give the new man ample time to come in and make a good fist of it and get the Gulf back up there," he said. "A director of rugby is important, with all the development of the game going on in the area. "He should also be the coach of the 15s team at least, which is what Hong Kong are doing so successfully. I will be available to cooperate in any handover." The AGRFU are making drastic changes after the International Rugby Board ordered a restructuring of the regional union at the end of last year.
A new chairman, Andrew Cole, took over from David Skidmore earlier this month. Marsters regarded himself as having a caretaker role when he was handed the role ahead of last year's Asian Five Nations, after Mark Butterfield stepped down due to work commitments. The AGRFU's management committee, however, were delighted when he agreed to take the job on permanently. He was a popular choice among players despite harsh training methods.
The New Zealander has filled a number of posts within the union. At one point last year he was simultaneously the coach of the men's and women's Arabian Gulf teams, assistant and conditioning coach of the sevens side and the union's press officer. Now he will focus on restoring the Exiles, who are second in the Gulf Premiership, to their former heights, having taking over as head coach in the summer.
Marsters will look back fondly on his year with the AGRFU. "It has been good. I managed to get a good cross-section of roles with the women, the men's 15s and sevens, and the age groups as well," he said. "I will miss it. My bread and butter now is with the Exiles, so I will remain involved with rugby on the club scene. I have enjoyed it, with the chances to spark up relationships with different people and the travelling as well.
"It has been good to go away to places like Hong Kong, Japan, and even Kazakhstan." The immediate future of the union will be hectic. March's World Cup Sevens, in which the Arabian Gulf are playing as hosts at The Sevens in Dubai, will be followed by the Asian Five Nations Division One tournament - also to be held at The Sevens - in April. The Gulf will be bidding to return to the top rank of Asian competition by winning the week-long Division One competition, which also involves China, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
pradley@thenational.ae
