St. James’s Place DIFC Partners with Dubai Hurricanes to Boost Community Sport in the Region
Dubai, UAE – 3rd September 2024 – St. James’s Place Wealth Management DIFC is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the Dubai Hurricanes aiming to further promote the sport within the region and support the community’s passion for Rugby, Netball and Cricket.
This partnership reflects the shared values of commitment, teamwork, and excellence. By joining forces, St. James’s Place DIFC and the Dubai Hurricanes are set to create more opportunities for both local talent to engage in sport, develop their skills, and enjoy the camaraderie that it brings.
David Nelson, Financial Adviser at St. James’s Place, commented on the partnership: “Myself and St. James’s Place are proud to sponsor the Hurricanes for the season, a Club that embodies the values of teamwork, resilience, and excellence—principles that align perfectly with our commitment to supporting our clients’ financial goals. Together, we’re driving forward with passion and purpose.”
Jim Dickinson, Chairman of the Dubai Hurricanes, also expressed his enthusiasm: “We are delighted to welcome St. James’s Place DIFC as a partner. Their commitment to excellence and community aligns perfectly with our club’s mission. This partnership will not only help us continue to develop sport at all levels but also strengthen our community outreach programs, ensuring rugby, netball and cricket remain accessible and enjoyable for everyone in Dubai.”
The Dubai Hurricanes, established in 1999, have been at the forefront of promoting rugby, netball and cricket in the UAE, offering programs for players of all ages and abilities. With the support of St. James’s Place DIFC, the club is poised to reach new heights and continue its tradition of fostering a love for sport within the community.
For more information on upcoming events and initiatives, please visit the Dubai Hurricanes’ website at www.dubaihurricanes.com or follow them on social media.
About St. James’s Place Wealth Management DIFC: St. James’s Place Wealth Management is a leading wealth management company, offering personalized financial advice and services to individuals, families, and businesses. Located in the Dubai International Financial Centre, St. James’s Place DIFC is committed to supporting community initiatives and fostering partnerships that align with its values. To learn more about David Nelson please visit https://partnership.sjp.asia/partner/davidnelsonuae
About Dubai Hurricanes: The Dubai Hurricanes is a premier rugby club in the UAE, dedicated to providing high-quality sports programs and promoting the sport across all age groups. With a rich history and a strong community focus, the club continues to be a hub for rugby, netball and cricket enthusiasts in the region.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jonathan Bawden
Commercial Director
commercial@dubaihurricanes.com
+971 58 585 1834
Dubai, UAE – The Dubai Hurricanes are thrilled to announce the renewal of their principal sponsorship with Emirates, one of the world’s leading airlines, as they celebrate their 25th anniversary season. This partnership ensures ongoing support for the development of community sport in the region.
The renewed sponsorship will see Emirates’ branding prominently displayed on the Hurricanes’ kit and at the club’s home ground. This collaboration underscores Emirates’ commitment to supporting local sports and fostering community engagement through rugby, netball, and cricket.
Jim Dickinson, Chairman of the Dubai Hurricanes, expressed his excitement about the renewal: “We are delighted to continue our journey with Emirates during our 25th anniversary season. Their support has been instrumental in our success, and we look forward to achieving even greater heights together.”
The Dubai Hurricanes have a rich history of success and community involvement, and this renewed partnership will help the club further its mission to promote sport at all levels. Fans and players alike can look forward to another exciting season with the backing of Emirates.
For more information, please contact:
]]>Louka Blommaert Represents Belgium in HSBC Sevens Challenger
A massive congratulations to Louka Blommaert from our Hurricanes Ladies Rugby team for being selected to represent Team Belgium Rugby Sevens in the final round of the HSBC Sevens Challenger in Krakow, Poland!🇵🇱🏉 Louka and her team earned their spot and qualified for the HSBC SVNS playoffs in Madrid.
UAE National Team Victories Featuring Hurricanes Players
Huge congratulations to our very own Hurricanes men’s rugby stars, Toby Oakley and Riaan Barnard, for their incredible performances with the UAE National Team. They played a pivotal role in the UAE’s epic 36-32 victory against South Korea and an impressive 69-19 triumph over Malaysia. Their hard work and determination have truly paid off!
Shoutout to Hurricanes Medic Chrissy Foster
A special shoutout to our dedicated Hurricanes medic, Chrissy Foster, for her unwavering support and dedication to the team. Her hard work behind the scenes is invaluable to our success.
Preparation for the Asia Sevens Series
While the UAE Rugby Men’s 15’s team were tearing it up in the Asia Series, some of our incredible Hurricanes ladies have been prepping for the Asia Sevens Series. The UAE Women’s team will be competing for the first time this September following their promotion last year.
Our amazing athletes, Hannah Underhill, Nour Dennaoui, Mel Lee, Alex Cook, Beth Taylor, Minal Tailor, Nicole Elizabeth, Hattie Witty, Kiera Thorne and Kat Mclay, have been training hard over the last few months. We eagerly await the announcement of the traveling squad and are already proud of everyone involved.
Top Refereeing by Elke Vinck
A big shoutout to Elke Vinck for the top-notch refereeing. Her dedication to the sport and professionalism on the field do not go unnoticed.
We are immensely proud of all our Hurricanes players and coaches. We can’t wait to watch the action unfold when rugby returns following the summer break. Keep up the fantastic work, everyone!
Go Canes!
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About The Academy
The Academy supports school sports by providing both in-curriculum and extracurricular coaching along with high-level group training programs in rugby, netball, and cricket. It caters to individuals (1-to-1), small groups (2-6), and high-performance academy squad sessions, supporting the development of players, coaches, and officials aiming to advance their skills and knowledge. Facilitated by experienced and qualified coaches, The Academy offers rugby, netball, and cricket education for beginners, skill developers, and those considering a career in sports. It is open to all, not just Dubai Hurricanes members.
Penny Ashcroft’s Background
Penny Ashcroft has been a dedicated member of Dubai Hurricanes for the past four years, serving as a parent volunteer. She is a qualified netball and rugby coach, with both her daughters having been selected for UAE squads in netball and rugby.
Career Highlights:
- Head of Netball & PE Teacher, Kings’ School Dubai: Penny has led the netball program at Kings’ School Dubai (KSD) to become one of the most successful primary schools in the Middle East. As Head Coach and Performance Lead for netball from Y2-6, she has recruited and managed additional netball coaches and supported them with coaching techniques. Penny has also been an outstanding PE teacher, supporting and organizing annual Sports Days, House Swim events and fulfilling a sports administrator role within the PE department to support the ECA lead.
- DASSA Head of Netball: In this role, Penny leads the planning and delivery of all DASSA Primary Netball competitions throughout the academic year, organizing tournaments, pre-season friendlies, and playoff competitions for all participation levels (from elite competitive to development level). She also leads CPD training for coaching, umpiring, and developing netball in schools.
- UAE Netball Open Manager: Penny is new in this role and was part of the team that gained silver place at the European Championships, earlier this year.
- Other Roles: Penny has served on the DASSA Select Committee, identifying and developing elite performers in rugby, netball, and basketball since 2019. She has also worked with England Netball as a Sports Scientist and Data Analyst from 2000-2003. Penny is Medic First Aid trained and actively participates in netball and golf.
Penny’s extensive experience and passion for sports education make her an invaluable addition to The Academy. Under her leadership, we are confident that The Academy will continue to thrive and provide exceptional opportunities for aspiring athletes and sports enthusiasts.
Please join us in welcoming Penny Ashcroft to her new role.
For more information, please contact The Academy operated by Dubai Hurricanes on: academy@dubaihurricanes.com
]]>BRFC – who now lead the seven-team table with 20 points from five games – remain unbeaten this season and are aiming for their fourth championship title on the trot after completing a hat-trick last season, looked set for another comprehensive win after they led 11-3 at half-time.
But the Hurricanes rallied magnificently in the 40-minute second half, adding 17 points to the BRFC’s nine to finally snap their own five-match losing streak.
“This was obviously not what we wanted going into the game,” a disappointed BRFC assistant coach Lindsey Gibson, who also played in the match, told the GDN.
“It wasn’t a terrible performance. We actually played quite well in phases and, in certain parts of the game, we played very well but we just didn’t take advantage of the opportunities we created. Plus, a couple of decisions went against us.
“But credit to the Hurricanes! They played really well and caused us a lot of problems. On another day, we could have just come away with a win, but it wasn’t to be.
“Still, it’s not the end of the world. We’ve got all to play for and it’s still in our hands in terms of trying to make the semi-finals and final. We have a big few weeks ahead of us with a lot of games coming up so it’s good to get back into some kind of rhythm.”
Gibson heaped praise on some of his teammates who, he said, were responsible for very good individual performances in last night’s game.
“Joe Kidgell and Greg Heath were very good in the wings,” he said.
“And Regan Van der Westhuizen had another good game. Also, captain Alastair Crombie was outstanding and led the side very well.”
The BRFC will now play the Doha Rugby Football Centre (Doha RFC) in an away game next weekend and Gibson said he was hopeful that the BRFC would return to its winning ways.
“The result against the Hurricanes wasn’t great but we didn’t lose the game either so we’re still alive and kicking and hope to get ourselves into those final places at the end of the season,” he explained.
“All we have to do now is, as they say, get back on the horse and start winning games again.
“We play Doha RFC on their home turf next Friday so, hopefully, we’ll apply what we learned from our mistakes against the Hurricanes.”
Source – https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/1300370/Hurricanes-in-spectacular-comeback-to-hold-BRFC
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