England's newest international rugby player, Josua Drauniniu, fears his communication skills may not be quite up to scratch.
"I'm not nervous," he says in perfect English, bar a faint West Country accent, after having a dictaphone pushed in front of him. "I just never really know what to say."
He deserves some slack. Drauniniu, who has been permitted leave from service in the Navy to play in the UAE, is the absolute antithesis of the modern, academy-trained rugby player.
"We haven't had the chance to give him any media training yet," admits his England coach, Ben Ryan.
Be that as it may, Drauniniu's reticence with words is chronic. He will make his England debut at The Sevens today and, a fortnight after being selected, he has not even spoken to his parents, who are back at home in Fiji, about it.
"I haven't told them yet," he says. "I might just surprise them. If I get a game, hopefully against Fiji, they might be watching and they might see me.
"After that I will probably call home and have a massive chat with my mum and dad."
He is likely to be spotted. In Fiji, sevens rugby fans rarely miss a beat.
With Waisale Serevi, the greatest sevens player, back in harness as coach of their own team, hopes are high that Fiji can claim back the Emirates International Trophy for the first time in 10 years.
Yet their fans are likely to have a foot in another camp, too. Drauniniu is the second Fijian to join the England ranks in the past couple of seasons, with Isoa Damudamu also back in Dubai for the second time.
Both serve in the British armed forces. Damu is a private in the Army, while Drauniniu has seen active service in the Gulf during his time in Navy.
He left his home in Lautoka on the west coast of mainland Fiji aged 17, to sign up on April 28 2003.
"I met a ship in Muscat in Oman, then went to Lebanon when the whole thing kicked off.
"I was there, getting evacuees on to the ship. I had to get them in and get them food. There were loads of people coming through.
"It was on HMS Bulwark, which is a landing platform deck, quite a big ship, and we had to get all these British citizens out of Lebanon and get them to Cyprus. It was a great experience that I learnt a lot from."
Despite his day job, his life seems to be be more defined by rugby at present. "We played rugby in Djibouti against the French foreign legion, and we beat them. It was a big thrashing, which was really great. We played in Kuwait against the Fijians, but they kicked us."
Much like the Army have done with Damu, when he recently earned himself a contract with one of England's biggest clubs, Wasps, the Navy spied a good PR opportunity through Drauniniu's rugby skills.
He works two days per week, and was given a year off last year to devote to improving as a rugby player.
"I started playing senior rugby for the Navy in 2004 at Twickenham, in the annual inter-services match against the Army," he recalls.
Three years later he was picked up by Exeter Chiefs, a club chasing promotion to English rugby's top rank, which is where he caught the eye of England's selectors.
"I was surprised to get a call-up from England rugby, but here I am," he says.
"I didn't ever think I was going to get a call-up. That is just my mentality. I was just playing weekend rugby for Exeter and I would not have minded if I hadn't been called up.
"I got a call telling me I had been selected in the 12-man team for Dubai, and I was like 'Whoa - this is good!' It is great that I have the chance to represent an international side.
"I don't want to get too ahead of myself, I just want to take it step by step. At first, I am playing for England sevens and we will take it from there."
Ryan, who knew Damu through their former club, Newbury Blues, struggles to contain his zeal over his new South Seas recruit.
"We knew about him, Fiji didn't, and we see him as someone who can go through the game, not just at sevens," said the England coach.
"He is a try scorer. He probably doesn't look quite as quick as he is, because he has a very fluid, effortless way of running. He glides through holes."
@Email:pradley@thenational.ae
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Company%20profile
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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ENGLAND%20SQUAD
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Quick%20facts
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The biog
Name: Salem Alkarbi
Age: 32
Favourite Al Wasl player: Alexandre Oliveira
First started supporting Al Wasl: 7
Biggest rival: Al Nasr
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
The%20Letter%20Writer
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Brief scores
Toss India, chose to bat
India 281-7 in 50 ov (Pandya 83, Dhoni 79; Coulter-Nile 3-44)
Australia 137-9 in 21 ov (Maxwell 39, Warner 25; Chahal 3-30)
India won by 26 runs on Duckworth-Lewis Method
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The%20Super%20Mario%20Bros%20Movie
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Company%20Profile
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