Mike Wernham said he feels frustrated after stepping down as Dubai Hurricanes coach without having the chance to prepare his side for a UAE Premiership final.
He informed the club late last week that he intended to resign, after a broadly successful spell that included winning the Dubai Rugby Sevens twice in the past two seasons.
Matt Pewtner, the former Wales international sevens player, will step up from his role as Wernham’s assistant to take full charge next season.
Last week it had been confirmed that the season would finish with immediate effect.
Rugby had been suspended at the start of March as a response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Initially, it had been hoped that the final round of league fixtures, as well as the finals in each of the competitions, would be rescheduled.
The UAE Rugby Federation issued a directive saying the matches would be rearranged at some point next season.
However, that was ruled out shortly after, as Gulf Rugby Management announced no fixtures would be carried over.
Bahrain were confirmed as West Asia champions, Dubai Exiles as UAE champions, with Abu Dhabi Saracens and Barrelhouse winning UAE Divisions One and Two respectively.
It meant Hurricanes were denied a shot and grand finals in both the UAE Premiership and Division One.
“This final decision, you could look at it in any way, and it is the right thing for it not to be played now,” Wernham said.
“But for me, Gulf Rugby Management have made an easy decision, and wrapped up the league without any more games being played.
“As I have always tried to do, as a coach, the thought process is for the players first and foremost.
“The guys have been training since July. I know I have made selections in games towards the back end of the season – before it was finished – that was to save players, and not risk them, with a view to playing in a Premiership final.
“To take the easy way out for me leaves a bad taste, and the lads are gutted about it, no doubt about it.”
The disappointment was not, though, the reason for his decision to end his tenure as director of rugby at Hurricanes.
His stepped down in order to spend more time at home, with his wife Alexandra having recently given birth to their first child.
And, despite the irritation at the way this season ended, he is satisfied with the job he has done.
“I’ve always had the coaching mentality where I have wanted to leave something in a better position than when I picked it up,” Wernham said.
“I’m extremely proud and comfortable with thinking I have done that.
"I have had some massive ups in my time with the Hurricanes.
“Winning back-to-back Sevens is one of the biggest ones, but also going from my first training session with 16 players to our last training session before this season ended, having 46 players was great.
“The culture of the club has changed, and it was a privilege to be a part of that. I know the club will continue to flourish.”
Match statistics
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 36 Bahrain 32
Harlequins
Tries: Penalty 2, Stevenson, Teasdale, Semple
Cons: Stevenson 2
Pens: Stevenson
Bahrain
Tries: Wallace 2, Heath, Evans, Behan
Cons: Radley 2
Pen: Radley
Man of the match: Craig Nutt (Harlequins)
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
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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
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Director:Michael Lehmann
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Rating: 1/5
