Gulf women's rugby set for an exciting start

Dubai: The Arabian Gulf Women's Rugby Championship is set to kick off on Friday with the first of seven tournaments held throughout the course of the season.

With eight clubs in the fray, the sevens format competition will begin in Dubai this weekend with Dubai Exiles RFC hosting the season opener at the Sevens Rugby Stadium.

The host club will be hoping that playing on familiar turf will help soothe nerves of a largely new team under coaching brothers Jason and Wesley Cook.

The South African coaching duo - both former players in the Exiles men's ranks have had to rebuild after losing a number of players to other clubs.

Gulf representative Candy Fanucci is now with Dubai Hurricanes along with promising youngsters Holly Myers and Jacqui Fanucci while the very experienced Lucy Jones will don the colours of Abu Dhabi Harlequins.

Additionally a double blow occurred this week with the news that team captain Claire Lilley is an unlikely starter this season.