ABU DHABI // The most capped UAE rugby player hopes to extend his international career to another campaign, after shelving plans to retire.
Chris Jones-Griffiths has been almost ever present since the national team started playing Test matches in 2011.
The prop forward had envisaged signing off after the Asia Rugby Championship Division 2 campaign at the end of last term, having recently turned 35.
One medical advisory also suggested he should give up the game anyway, because of the severity of a foot injury he suffered halfway through last season.
The fact he missed the UAE tour to Uzbekistan in May because of that grade 3 tear of his plantar fascia, though, has led him to reassess his plan to hang up his boots.
He arrived at pre-season training with his club side Abu Dhabi Harlequins this summer saying he will continue playing indefinitely.
He is now hoping to make the Division 1 tournament, against Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines, at the end of the coming season.
“I got injured in January, and didn’t want to finish with half a season,” Jones-Griffiths said.
“I have managed to get myself fit and am looking forward to another season. I don’t want to say I am retiring, it is just another season, because you are a long time retired.
“Because of the nature of playing in the front row, we are a relatively rare breed so you always have to be willing to be available to play.”
Mike McFarlane, the Harlequins coach, is happy to have one of the most experienced players in Arabian Gulf rugby back fit.
“Chris is an important member of our squad on and off the pitch,” McFarlane said.
“He is Quins through and through. He has been here even longer than I have been, so it is great to have him around.
“I think there is such a good feeling around the club at the moment it is impossible to leave.”
Harlequins start their new campaign when they travel to Dubai Exiles, the team who beat them to the two major XVs titles last season, on Friday.
The two giants of UAE rugby will be vying with Kandy, the champions of Sri Lanka, in the West Asia Champions League.
With three weeks still to go until the domestic season starts, the curtain-raising tournament arrives early in the preparations of both the teams.
However, Harlequins have had record registration numbers this summer, and McFarlane says the matches against Exiles and Kandy will give aspiring first-teamers the chance to prove their worth.
“Because of where this tournament is in relation to the season, we have lads climbing over each other to win their positions,” McFarlane said.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for them. The depth we have in quality this season is outstanding, and they are certainly all looking to put a marker down in terms of their position.
“We have had to leave some quality players out of the initial squad. We will look to rotate for the second game against Kandy, because we are looking to manage their workload, and we still have a lot we want to do ahead of the season.”
After facing the Exiles at The Sevens, Dubai on Friday, Harlequins will host Kandy at Zayed Sports City on Tuesday evening. Exiles and Kandy will meet at The Sevens the following Friday.
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THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
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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
Disclaimer
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Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
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Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
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Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
INFO
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START-UPS%20IN%20BATCH%204%20OF%20SANABIL%20500'S%20ACCELERATOR%20PROGRAMME
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
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Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
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TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
