DUBAI // The UAE aim to be regarded as the best amateur side in Asia, according to Bruce Birtwistle, their coach.
The collection of surveyors, aircraft engineers and salesmen who make up the national team face the toughest task of their campaign this evening when they go up against a fully-professional Japan side.
Japan have never been beaten in three and a half years of Asian Five Nations rugby, meaning the rest have essentially been vying for second place.
This season, that will probably be decided by next weekend’s “Battle of the Expat Brats,” as the UAE captain Mike Cox-Hill terms it, when they travel to Hong Kong.
In the meantime, the UAE are taking encouragement by the fact Hong Kong were only beaten 45-22 when they hosted Japan this term, ahead of tonight’s game.
“We want to be recognised as the best amateur team in Asia, and the second best team in Asia, those are our goals,” Birtwistle said. “We were heartened by Hong Kong’s result against Japan. Hong Kong played a particularly good game, and will be happy to see they are closing the gap. We are aiming to do exactly the same.”
In a bid to keep pace with the Japanese loose-forwards, Birtwistle has picked three flankers in his back row to increasing the pack’s mobility around the field.
Jamie Clarke, the New Zealand-born open-side flanker who captains Abu Dhabi, is available to make his debut.
He has been brought into the back row in place of Scott Kerr, the Exiles No 8, whose club-mate, Carl Von Rosenveldt, has switched from the open-side to the back of the scrum. Renier Els, the South African wildlife supervisor who was named Abu Dhabi’s player of the year last week, remains on the blind-side flank.
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THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday Stuttgart v Cologne (Kick-off 10.30pm UAE)
Saturday RB Leipzig v Hertha Berlin (5.30pm)
Mainz v Borussia Monchengladbach (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Union Berlin v SC Freiburg (5.30pm)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (5.30pm)
Sunday Wolfsburg v Arminia (6.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim (9pm)
Bayer Leverkusen v Augsburg (11.30pm)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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Power: 320bhp
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Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
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Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
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SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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 specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
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Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
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Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
The%20specs
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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
Match info
Wolves 0
Arsenal 2 (Saka 43', Lacazette 85')
Man of the match: Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal)
The view from The National
