Sport | Rugby
Former Arabian Gulf man back in Dubai with young guns
Weir delighted to return to the Exiles Stadium and expecting his team of exciting South Africans to make a big impact at the tournament
- By Steve Hill, Correspondent
- Published: 01:03 November 30, 2007
Dubai: Former Arabian Gulf RFU development officer Darryl Weir is back in Dubai with a young South African side who are threatening to make a big impression in the International Overseas tournament.
The @lantic Invitation side consists mainly of 17 and 18-year-olds who were plucked from a national series of schools' sevens competitions.
And despite their lack of experience at the short form of the game and their tender years, Weir is predicting a bright future for these stars of tomorrow.
Weir, who returned to his homeland in 2005 after several years in the Gulf, said: "Most of these guys had never played sevens until quite recently so they've been through a crash course on structures and skills but they are showing phenomenal natural talent."
A total of 4,000 players took part in 10 sevens tournaments across the country with one stand-out player from each competition earning a place in the @lantic squad and a seat on the plane to Dubai.
Weir added: "We went into a camp with the Springbok Sevens ... and coach Paul Treu was so impressed he has already pulled two of the guys into his extended training squad. I reckon that at least two more will be there before too long."
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There is one senior in the side - former Springbok sevens squad member Jowan Bowles who, at the age of 24, is the old man of the party.
Weir, now the chief executive of Bizsport, a Pretoria-based player management and sports promotion company, is pleased to be back in Dubai for the final sevens at the Exiles.
"I have some very special memories of this place," he said. "It's been great catching up with old faces, it was something I could not miss."
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