Dubai: The bulldozers are set to move in at the Dubai Exiles and begin demolition work virtually as soon as the 38th edition of the Emirates airline Dubai Rugby Sevens is completed, it has been revealed.
Work is already underway on new purpose-built facilities close to Dubailand that will host next year's award-winning sevens competition as well as the 2009 World Cup Sevens.
And it is hoped that two grass pitches will be ready as early as February to host matches involving local teams involved in Gulf-wide competitions.
Dubai Exiles chairman Steve Blackburn said: "We are hoping to take turf from two of our pitches to the new facilities. We're aiming to go out with a bang."
The new state-of-the-art complex will feature seven pitches, a permanent 10,000-seat stand, clubhouse for Dubai's three leading clubs and a new headquarters for the Arabian Gulf RFU as well as facilities for a range of other sports currently based at the Exiles.
Dubai Hurricanes chairman Paul Manders believes the new facilities set a standard that will be hard to beat.
He said: "I think they'll be the envy of most other rugby-playing nations - and many other sports as well. "The new complex will also help open up rugby at all levels to a lot more people.
Good for the game
"The Hurricanes and the Dragons, for example, will now have the chance to run youth and mini teams - and that can only be good for rugby generally."
Tim Wood, the chairman of the Dubai Dragons, said: "We are very excited about the new facility being provided to the clubs of Dubai by Emirates.
"It's a fabulous opportunity for rugby in Dubai to move forward, and we hope that it will help continue the development of the sport in the region.
"We are sad to see the closure of the Exiles and the loss of what had been our home for many years, but we are excited about the future."
