Hurricanes look to keep the good work going

Dubai Hurricanes' hopes of improving on last season's best-ever third-place finish in the Arabian Gulf League will receive an immediate test when they take on Dubai Exiles tonight at 7.30pm.

New skipper Chris Gregory is determined to see his club maintain the remarkable momentum that could have sealed the runners-up slot, had they travelled to and beaten Kuwait on the last weekend of the campaign.

Despite the loss of key forwards Jason Brown, who has left the Gulf, and Steve Huber, sidelined for at least six weeks with a broken collarbone, the scrum-half is confident of another big season.

He said: "We definitely want to go at least one better in the league and even win it. We also want to have better runs in the cup and the sevens."

The Hurricanes have been boosted by the arrival of a clutch of new arrivals over the summer while the decision taken last week by Gulf centre Iutoi Tauafiafi to switch from the Dragons will add steel and experience to the midfield.

Gulf sevens coach John Mamea was originally not going to play this season but he, too, has opted to join the Hurricanes who also have a new coach in Welshman Steve Holohan.

Champions Dubai Dragons, meanwhile, launch their bid for a third successive league title away to Muscat tonight.

The Dragons came unstuck in this fixture last season, but are determined not to make that mistake again with three new recruits named in the starting line-up. Prop Kim Humphreys, winger James Wellings and full-back Emmet Condron make debuts while Sean Hurley links with Paul Austin in a new centre combination.

Fixtures

Today's matches:
Dubai Exiles v Dubai Hurricanes (7.30pm: referee S. Scott; touch judges M. Brodie and G. Botes).
Muscat v Dubai Dragons (8p.m.: G. Allen; L. Millard)
Doha v Sharjah Wanderers (8.30pm: G. Bateman; M de Wet and K Townson)

Tomorrow's match:
Abu Dhabi v Bahrain (6pm: A Whitcombe; B. Kibblewhite and C. Shyrane).