Treble-winning Jebel Ali Dragons have reacted to the exit of coach Ross Mills by promoting from within and naming a three-person team as a replacement.

Mills, 47, and the club made a mutual decision at the start of last month to split, following a glorious one-year spell which included successes in the Dubai Sevens, UAE Premiership and ARFU West Asia Cup.

Stepping into the void are hooker Sean Crombie, fly-half Murray Strang and Michael Lewis – who was part of the coaching set up last term.

The trio have already begun pre-season training, with chairman Tim Wood confident the Dragons will remain the team to beat in the Middle East when the UAE Premiership kicks off in October.

“We are very positive about things,” he said. “The three of them helped out a lot with coaching last year, and I am sure they will do an excellent job going forward.

“This represents a change of direction for the club that we wanted. The last two seasons have been very successful for Jebel Ali Dragons, and the trio have played a big role in that.

“They know the players very well, and will be able to get the best out of them moving forward.

“We want to continue that success this season. But of course, we know all the other teams are out to improve and knock us off our perch.”

With Mills now entrenched at Dubai Hurricanes following the exit of Russ Huxtable, the three men coming in are familiar faces at the Dragons.

Dynamic hooker Crombie – a former sevens international for Scotland – has excelled since arriving in the UAE two years ago, being named the first ever senior player of the year at April’s inaugural UAE Rugby Annual Awards in Dubai.

Countryman Strang has represented the UAE during his six years in the country, performing an influential role at fly-half or centre.

The pair will continue to play for the Centre of Excellence outfit, with Lewis – who joined the club last summer alongside Mills – in a general position that will see him putting on training sessions for the first and second teams as well as establishing a Minis and Youths sections for the first time.

“We will be working very closely together, with no head coaching role present in the new set-up,” Welshman Lewis said. “Sean has lots of experience in the forwards and Murray has great technical expertise in the three-quarters spots.

“There will be a more general role for me, helping to provide structure and organisation for the first and second teams. We will continue to push very hard to build on the great success of the last few years.

“There is a lot of talent within the club, which hopefully will help keep us at the top.”