Dubai: Cyrus Homayoun of Dubai Dragons and Ali Mohammad of Dubai Wasps will be the Emirati representatives in the 22-man UAE rugby squad to take on the might of Japan in the HSBC Asian 5 Nations match on Friday at The Sevens.
Japan are Asia's top team and are ranked 13th in the world. Prior to their metamorphosis into UAE Rugby at the start of this year, the Arabian Gulf team had played Japan thrice and had lost heavily on all three occasions, their worst being a 114-6 mauling. They also lost 82-9 and 60-5 in their other two encounters.
Coach Bruce Birtwistle will be making a few changes to the squad which beat Kazakhstan in their last match. David Vittes of Dubai Exiles gets his first start, while Jamie Clarke and Michael Hartley make their debuts.
Carl Von Rosenveldt moves to No 8 to make way for Clarke, forcing Scott Kerr to the bench. Try scorer Andrew Millar is out of the 22-man squad. Mike Cox-Hill remains the skipper of the side.
22-man UAE squad to play Japan
1. Chris Jones Griffiths - Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2. David Vittes - Dubai Exiles
3. Mike Riley - Dubai Exiles
3. Simon Osbourne - Dubai Hurricanes
5. Mike Cox-Hill - Dubai Exiles
6. Renier Els - Abu Dhabi Harlequins
7. Jamie Clarke - Abu Dhabi Harlequins
8. Carl Von Rosenveldt - Dubai Exiles
9. David Clouston - Dubai Hurricanes
10. Jon Grady - Dubai Dragons
11. Michael Hartley - Abu Dhabi Harlequins
12. Duncan Murray - Dubai Hurricanes
13. John Beeton - Dubai Exiles
14. Sean Hurley - Dubai Dragons
15. Tim Fletcher - Dubai Dragons
16. Dan Heal - Dubai Dragons
17. Dan Boatwright - Dubai Hurricanes
18. Lloyd Budd - Dubai Exiles
19. Scott Kerr - Dubai Dragons
20. Stuart Quinn - Dubai Exiles
21. Cyrus Homayoun - Dubai Dragons
22. Ali Mohammad - Dubai Wasps
