Dubai - The Sevens

We passed on the first of the 3 days of rugby, which was more about the local competitions than the main event, but did attend the 2 that covered the IRB Series rugby.

We saw some thrilling rugby, but had to contend with the temporary stadium, same as last time, with uncomfortable steps to sit on, plus it was crowded at times.  For such a prestigious event and with all the other building that is going on in Dubai, it is amazing that the stadium has not been completed and this is a deterrent for future visits to the event.

We did see some thrilling rugby and there was also a spectacular parachute entry by several jumpers, coming in very low through a corner and between stands, to land in the middle of the pitch in the dark.

Ireland weren't competing, so I was able to support England without a conscience.  Despite some lacklustre performance in the Pool matches, they went from strength to strength to knock out New Zealand in the Cup Semi Final, then beat Samoa in seconds beyond full time with a further converted try and win 29-21,  much  more satisfying and convincing than the 22-21 lead they had a full time!  (I note they were narrowly beaten by New Zealand 22-19 in South Africa a week later, so they are maintaining their form, which bodes well for the season).

Dubai

Cousin Mike & wife Karen, son Ben & wife Sharyn, Jean and I went to Dubai for the IRB Sevens, the first of the season.  This time, last having been for the World Cup in March '09, we stayed near Dubai Marina, at the stem of Palm Jumeirah, on the beach.  The hotel location was among the high rise is part of an outcrop extending down the beach, which is a mixture of office blocks and accommodation, part of the ever-expanding building work of Dubai.  Whether enough people come to occupy it all in time remains a mystery, but committed they are!  Jean had a paddle in the sea while we watched parachutists landing on an airstrip right in front of the hotel.

We took a bus tour and a trip down the Creek, enjoying a very pleasant temperatures and blue skies.  We didn't have a great amount of free time, but we did managed to catch up with Peter Moulson, who is in and out of Dubai on consultancy work for the government, to enjoy a few drinks and a Japanese meal in our hotel.  We viewed the ski slope of a large shopping mall nearby, and I was again convinced that I couldn't possibly shop in such a place with so much choice and no idea where I might find something I actually wanted because it's so vast.  But, some do!