Former Abu Dhabi Saracens player Dougie Steele has said he will miss some of his former team-mates but is glad to be back in his native Scotland.

The 25-year-old full-back spent two-and-a-half years in the UAE and capped his time in the Emirates with a West Asia Cup medal, appearing in March’s final as Sarries beat Doha 26-20 in Qatar.

Steele fulfilled a number of roles last season for the Al Ghazal club, playing at scrum-half in the West Asia Cup final, but also playing at fly-half as well as his more familiar full-back position.

Steele returned home earlier this summer and to former club Ayr, who play in the Scottish Premiership.

“It’s nice to be home. I’m going back to university,” said Steele. “I’m back at Ayr and going to Heriot Watt in Edinburgh to study urban planning and property development. I will miss a few guys from Sarries, but I’m really enjoying playing at a higher level again.”

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Meanwhile, another Scotsman also back in the UK is Sean Crombie, the former Jebel Ali Dragons hooker also returning to Scotland earlier this summer after stepping down as joint head coach following a disappointing season for the deposed ex-double treble winners. 

The 28-year-old appeared for former side Boroughmuir at a pre-season tournament in Edinburgh earlier this month.

Crombie skippered the Scotland Club XV team in 2012, had a spell at Edinburgh, represented Scotland at sevens and also has Scottish Under-19 and U-21 caps. He spent two-and-a-half years in Dubai.