Ruling paves the way for Harlequins

May 07. 2009

Ruling paves the way for Harlequins

Ruling paves the way for Harlequins Alastair Thompson (black shirt) , Abu Dhabi’s team captain and coach, gives his players a pep talk during trainng for their all-important Gulf Premiership match against the Dubai Hurricanes today. Lauren Lancaster / The National
DUBAI // The Abu Dhabi Harlequins chairman, Richard Harris, expressed relief after an appeal against his side for allegedly fielding an ineligible player was thrown out by the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union disciplinary committee on Wednesday.

Doha, who are two points behind the Premiership-leading Quins and having played all their fixtures, claimed Quins had fielded a player who had not completed all of his 12-match suspension when the two sides met on April 24. Quins won the game 34-10.

However, the AGRFU ruled in the UAE club’s favour which means a win over Dubai Hurricanes today will be enough to give them the Premiership crown. “From our perspective we are just relieved the issue has been resolved one way or the other, so the players know exactly what they are playing for at kick-off,” said Harris.

“We did not think we had a case to answer and we were exonerated by the AGRFU’s ruling. The last thing anyone wanted was for the issue to be carried on past the final game of the season.”

The Gulf Premiership has a knack of reaching the most convoluted crescendo possible. Last season, the Hurricanes were crowned the champions via a play-off system, and after a confusing but compelling final which took in two periods of extra time. It was finally decided by the fact the Hurricanes had scored more tries, without the knowledge of the majority of players.
This campaign – now without play-offs – could also have a foggy terminus. The union have settled the dispute between Abu Dhabi and Doha, but Quins could yet be beaten. Third-placed Dubai Dragons, the only side who can now take the title from Quins, are eight points behind and meet Bahrain today.

It is the first time the two sides have played in the league this term, and consequently the result of the match will count double.

Alastair Thompson, the Quins captain and coach, said: “The guys have been training hard and I firmly believe that they haven’t played their best rugby yet.”

The Hurricanes captain Chris Gregory, said: “For the last two years it has been us playing Abu Dhabi to win the league, so we know how they’ll be feeling.

“It would be nice to cause an upset but at the end of the day I think it’s down to the Dragons to do the duty against Bahrain.”

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