All around the World...

The IRB World Sevens Series exploded into Dubai last weekend and did not by any measure fall short of the entertaining extravaganza that the 7s game has proved to be over the past few years. South Africa recorded an impressive series win, giving them huge momentum going forward to the home leg in George this weekend. 

Dubai was special especially from a Western Cape point of view as the winners fielded 3 UCT RFC players in the side that played the Final; Mpho Mboyizo, Paul Delport and newcomer Kyle Brown. However, also in the USA Eagles side was Matt Hawkins an ex-Ikey player. George (Yes the same George that is owned by semi-professional outfit the UCT Colts) will be equally special as a further ex-Ikey will be on show as Matt Turner - who recently moved to Bristol - will be playing for England. Thats 5, thats taking the piss already....

Top right: Beer in hand, Tiger on the field, Ikey in the changeroom...

If that wasn't enough, behind the scenes at the Dubai tournament was more UCT graduates collecting silverware like it were free Mojitos on the Camps Bay strip. Read this news article:

Dubai: 'As good as it gets' was the verdict as the Dubai Dragons swept aside their rivals Dubai Exiles in the Gulf Men's final. The Dragons led 19-5 at the turnaround and then surged 41-12 ahead to reclaim local bragging rights in style after a lean couple of seasons.

Captain James Welling said: "This is my fourth year in Dubai and being with the Dragons, and the first time I've won this trophy. It's been a long time coming.

"We've worked very hard for this and it's very pleasing. It doesn't get much better."

Chairman Tim Wood echoed that sentiment. "The Dragons are back! We're absolutely delighted. We were written off earlier this season so to come back in this style, against the Exiles with all the history between us and in the first Gulf final at this wonderful new venue is just fantastic."

Asa Firth, David Malcolm (2), Ed Lapine Williams, Dylan van der Baylett, Henry Connell and Jayden Wallace claimed the all-important tries for the Dragons with Wayne McDonald touching down in each half for the Exiles.

The hottest things in the desert...

The backbone and try scoring machine of the Dubai Dragons is none other than the Green Mile patron Eddie 'Bullet' Lepine of the Kulula Dragons rugby Dynasty. Eddie now fully blown Dubai ex-pat spends his time between early morning gym sessions and late evening rugby practices as a part-time business tycoon, which is really just ancillary to his sporting rockstardom and killing the desert with part-time ladies man, full-time face of everything male model just Robbie.