With the local rugby season upon us we have the lowdown on each team aiming to compete for the West Asia Premiership title.
From the key players to our predictions for the year, we have you covered.
Who do you think will win?
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BAHRAIN
Coach: Louie Tonkin
Home ground: Bahrain RFC
Captain: Adam Wallace
Key player: Elliot Behan
Last season: West Asia Premiership 3rd, West Asia Championship 2nd
Sport360° prediction: Made great progress under Tonkin in his debut campaign and, with new faces arriving and a lot of injured stars returning to the ranks, expect them to be a major contender for trophies
UAE Premiership: N/A
West Asia Premiership: 2nd
Dubai Sevens: Quarter-finals
JEBEL ALI DRAGONS
Coach: Henry Paul
Home ground: JACOE
Captain: Ross Samson
Key player: Matt Henry
Last season: West Asia Premiership 4th, UAE Premiership 2nd
Sport3600 prediction: Came on leaps and bounds last season under Paul and are set to make more strides, with exciting signings said to have arrived. Fell short of silverware last season but 2017/18 could be different.
UAE Premiership: 2nd
West Asia Premiership: 3rd
Dubai Sevens: Final
DUBAI EAGLES
Coach: Pat Benson
Home ground: Dubai Sports City
Captain: Conor Coakley
Key player: Sean Carey
Last season: N/A
Sport3600 prediction: The new boys are an unknown quantity but it will surely be a season of struggle for them, with their opponents well ahead. Being competitive and earning a handful of wins would be seen as a good campaign for the debutants.
UAE Premiership: 6th
West Asia Premiership: 7th
Dubai Sevens: Pool stages
DUBAI EXILES
Coach: Jacques Benade
Home ground: The Sevens
Captain: N/A
Key player: Durandt Gerber
Last season: West Asia Premiership 5th, UAE Premiership 4th
Sport3600 prediction: Have recruited well over the summer and will be hard-pressed to be as bad as they were last season. Head coach Benade will be upset if they don’t win at least one trophy from the four on offer.
UAE Premiership: 1st
West Asia Premiership: 4th
Dubai Sevens: Semi-finals
ABU DHABI HARLEQUINS
Coach: Mike McFarlane
Home ground: Zayed Sports City
Captain: Ben Bolger
Key player: Luke Stevenson
Last season: West Asia Premiership 1st, UAE Premiership 1st, Dubai Sevens winners
Sport3600 prediction: Where do they go after they won everything last year? Surely they can’t be as untouchable as last season. Have lost some key players but undoubtedly remain the team to beat.
UAE Premiership: 3rd
West Asia Premiership: 1st
Dubai Sevens: Winners
DUBAI HURRICANES
Coach: Mike Wernham
Home ground: The Sevens
Captain: Dave Knight
Key player: Josh Elliot
Last season: West Asia Premiership 6th, UAE Premiership 5th
Sport3600 prediction: A perennial struggler for the last two seasons but finally settled under Wernham, who has added structure and confidence. Have their work cut out but are an outside bet for a trophy
UAE Premiership: 4th
West Asia Premiership: 5th
Dubai Sevens: Semi-finals
ABU DHABI SARACENS
Coach: N/A
Home ground: N/A
Captain : Johnny Taylor
Key player: Stephen Hamilton
Last season: West Asia Premiership 7th, UAE Premiership 6th
Sport3600 prediction: It’s been a tumultuous summer for Sarries, but vibes coming from within the club are refreshingly positive. They won’t trouble the top teams but will be happy to be competitive
UAE Premiership: 5th
West Asia Premiership: 6th
Dubai Sevens: Quarter-finals