Ross joined the Dubai Hurricanes in 2013, as a senior rugby player and coach in the Mini & Youth section, before taking on the roles of Mini & Youth Chairman and Tournament Director of the HSBC Rugby Festival Dubai in 2021. During the 2023-24 season Ross was appointed as Club Vice Chairman.
A World Rugby level 2 coach, Ross is passionate about rugby values and youth player development and continues to coach and play for the club.
Professionally, Ross works within the digital and technology industry and has lived in the UAE since 2006.

Richard joined Dubai Hurricanes as a player in 2006, soon after moving to the UAE – playing his rugby as a Lock in both the second team and as part of our successful Vets squad for over 15 years before hanging up his boots. Richard has since become involved in the Netball club as a volunteer where his two daughters play.

Professionally Richard is a Partner at EY working in Strategy and Transactions. Richard is an ICAEW accredited Chartered Accountant and also Chairs the Middle East arm of the ICAEW Corporate Finance Faculty. Richard has been living and working in the UAE for over 18 years.

Nichola has been active in the Club for a number of years, previously as a Medic and now as Legal Counsel.

She is a Partner and Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution at James Berry & Associates Legal Consultants.  Nichola is also a practicing Barrister (England & Wales), and an Associate Member (Chancery/Civil) of 36 Group Chambers in London. She is also a volunteer in the Academy of Law Pro-Bono Programme.

Khalid bin Drai is a prominent figure in the UAE polo scene, known for his significant contributions and achievements in the sport. He is part of the Bin Drai Polo team, which has won multiple prestigious tournaments, including the UAE Federation Cup and the Halloween Cup. The team has a strong presence in the local polo community, competing in various high-profile events at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club.

In addition to his role in polo, Khalid bin Drai is involved in business ventures, contributing to the economic landscape of the UAE.

Abeer Alkhaja is a notable Emirati personal trainer, CrossFit coach, and fitness enthusiast who has transformed her life through dedication to health and wellness.  She is now a Fitness Development Manager at Zaabeel Ladies Club and a Dubai Fitness Challenge ambassador, where she inspires others to embrace fitness for a healthier life

David arrived in the UAE during 1996 and played rugby initially in Abu Dhabi and later for Dubai Exiles; David represented the Arabian Gulf and UAE in international rugby fixtures including matches in the rugby World Cup in 1999 and during that year joined in with a group of rugby-playing friends to establish the Dubai Hurricanes; David has served as Secretary of the Board since 2015.
Professionally he works in the international oil industry as a petroleum engineer, technical manager and as CEO and Director of a public oil company on the Canadian and Norwegian stock exchanges. He has supported various local and international companies and new businesses as an entrepreneur and Director.
David is an active sailor and member of Dubai Offshore Sailing Club for 25-years, competing in local, national and international regattas. He has held committee positions, including Rear Commodore, and since 2013 held the position of Race Director of the annual Dubai to Muscat Offshore Sailing Race.

Educated at Sedbergh school Mike represented England U18s and was part of the Sale Sharks’ Academy before moving onto Northampton Saints, playing in the Premiership A-league and studying at Loughborough University; Here he represented England Universities and qualified as a PE teacher. Mike went on to become a World Rugby Level-3 Coach and has worked with some highly ranked players and teams. Having joined Dubai Hurricanes in 2016, Mike returned to the Director of Rugby position in 2022.

Professionally Mike has worked in both England and Dubai as Head of Rugby, and PE teacher. Currently he is Head of Secondary Sport at JESS Dubai.

Kat joined Hurricanes as a mum of a young netballer and club volunteer in 2019.  She took on the role as Director of Netball in 2022 with her first task to host and run the inaugaral Saxo Bank 7s, the biggest and only all-female athlete sports event in the Gulf, with netball and rugby being the feature sports.  Kat has grown the netball section of Hurricanes to now be over a third of the membership, and her passion is to provide as many opportunities for girls and women to participate in sports at all levels.  She personally enjoys gym workouts and has competed in events such as Turf Games, Battle Cancer and Hyrox.

Professionally, Kat is an author, a part-time personal trainer and with her business partner, Emma, designs and creates women’s resortwear under the brand Kat+Em. Kat is a serial expat, having left her native New Zealand in 2001, and has resided in the UAE since 2018.

TBC

From Loughborough, UK, Penny has been a dedicated member of Dubai Hurricanes since 2020, 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.
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.
Personally she enjoys netball – coaching, volunteering playing, & officiating; Rugby – volunteering & supporting Canes & Leicester Tigers and; Golf trying to reduce her handicap!
Professionally, Penny is the currently the Head of Netball & PE Teacher, at Kings’ School Dubai, the DASSA Head of Netball and the UAE Netball Open Manager. Penny has resided in the UAE since 2008.

Darran joined the Hurricanes in 2016, coaching and refereeing in the Midi, Mini and Youth section and playing for the Hurricanes Vets team. Darran became Mini & Youth Chairman in 2023 and Tournament Director of the HSBC Rugby Festival Dubai.As a World Rugby Level 1 coach and RFU Level 2 qualified referee, Darran is passionate about installing the right rugby values throughout the mini and youth section of the Hurricanes. Darran is currently coaching U12 girls rugby and has coached all age groups at the Hurricanes from u4s to u15s. Darran also coached the DaddyCanes vets team to win the Gulf Vets Shield at the Dubai Sevens.

Professionally, Darran is a construction and projects lawyer and is currently involved in a GIGA-Project in Saudi Arabia.

Jonathan joined the Hurricanes in 2013 and has represented the club at all senior levels and still attempts to run out for the Vets on occasion. Jonathan oversees the commercial side of the Hurricanes including partnerships and collaborations.

Professionally, he is the Regional Director for a US vessel owner and has an extensive background in marine asset management, vessel chartering, and contract negotiations within the industry.

Cecile de Scally has been an integral part of the Hurricanes since their inception in 1999, leading the Medical Department for all but two seasons. With a pivotal role in Gulf club rugby since 1997, she continually sets the standard for sports medical care. Cecile is also passionate about babies, serving as a South African trained Nurse and Midwife, and heading the Midwifery Department at Malaak Baby Care in JLT. At the Emirates Dubai 7s, she can be found on Hurricane Hill, attending to the Canes as well as visiting teams such as the J9 Foundation, 100 World Legends, HGB Legends, and the Arabian Gulf Leg’ends.

Flavio arrived in the UAE in 2015 and in 2017 he joined the Hurricanes as the Rugby Development Officer with coaching roles in the Academy and Senior Ladies at the Hurricanes. He is a World Rugby L3 Coach and Educator.

Hailing from Brazil, he represented the national side between 1988 and 2001 and latterly coached the Mens and Ladies 7s. He currently works in the PE Department at North London Collegiate School and previously at JBS.

Henry joined the Hurricanes for the 2023-24 season and in his first season took the Club to the UAE Premiership final.

He is a notable dual-code rugby international who achieved significant success in both rugby league and rugby union. Born in New Zealand, he played 334 first-grade games in the English Super League for teams including Wakefield Trinity, Wigan, Bradford Bulls, and Harlequins Rugby League. He represented New Zealand in 24 rugby league test and after transitioning to rugby union, played over 150 games for Bath, Gloucester, Leeds Carnegie, and Rotherham, and represented England in six tests matches.

Following his retirement from professional rugby, he moved into coaching with Russia and most recntly, Canada.

Emily is from the UK and has 15 years of coaching experience across various ages and abilities. In addition to being the Netball Head Coach she is the current UAE U21 National Assistant Coach and also the Head Coach of Netball of The Academy. She also has recent experience expanding across PSA in Dubai & Thunder Netball Academy in Abu Dhabi. Before moving to the UAE in 2022, Emily was coaching to a high level for the English Colleges National Squad (AoC) as well as for Manchester Thunder Pathway & Lancashire Netball Academy. She is a UKCC Level 2 qualified Netball Coach with a degree in Sports Coaching Practice.
Emily is passionate about the development of netball in the UAE and at Dubai Hurricanes and is building a ‘Canes way of play’ where each coach and player feel valued, cared for and excel in netball both on and off the court.
Personally, Emily likes catching up on all things netball in the SSN, NSL & ANZ as well as baking and going for coffee with friends. Emily has played netball for 19 years and is a member of our Senior squad.