DUBAI // Steve Cooper believes Abu Dhabi Harlequins have stolen a march over their Arabian Gulf League rivals - to the extent that his Dubai Exiles side will be the underdogs in tomorrow's season curtain-raiser. The Quins are fast becoming the region's pre-eminent club, thanks to their recently-penned association with the Guinness Premiership side Harlequins in London.
When the sides met on the opening day of last season, they drew 8-8. The Exiles maintained an undefeated record throughout the season - yet were cruelly denied the title after an astonishing final with the Dubai Hurricanes. The scores remained level after two periods of over-time, yet Hurricanes took the title by virtue of having scored more tries. The Quins, meanwhile, had their best campaign since their glory years, and have recruited heavily in the off-season.
Cooper, the Exiles centre and Arabian Gulf vice-captain, believes the side from the capital are now the side to fear. He said: "It will be very tough. Abu Dhabi have come a long way in the past six to eight months. "Richard Harris [the club's chairman] and everyone else there has done a really good job to bring Abu Dhabi back to what it used to be like in the past. "The Exiles was always the team that everybody looked to, but I think the roles have changed: the Exiles are now like the underdogs.
"Even though we didn't lose a single match last year we still didn't manage to win the league, which is a shame. "It [tonight's game] is going to be very tough indeed, and I think it will set the tone for the rest of the season. "All the clubs involved in the competition, especially the Dubai-based clubs, have benefited from the amount of quality players who have moved to the region. "That is why we have seen a massive improvement in local rugby."
The Exiles have struggled with early season injuries and retirements, but they will have some insider knowledge on their opponents through their newly-signed coach Wayne Marsters. The Kiwi centre played spent eight years with Abu Dhabi and held roles as coach, captain and director of rugby before taking up his new position with Abu Dhabi's great rivals, the Exiles. Tonight's Gulf Cup showdown takes place at Abu Dhabi's home at the Al Ghazal Golf Club, and kicks off at 7pm. @Email:pradley@thenational.ae
