Club Board

Jim joined the Dubai Hurricanes in 2010, coaching in the Mini’s section, before taking on the role of Mini & Youth Chairman in 2017 and Tournament Director of the HSBC Rugby Festival Dubai; In 2021-22 season Jim took over the role of Club Vice Chairman, and Club Chairman from 1st January, 2024.

An England RFU level 3 coach, Jim is a passionate advocate of girls and women’s sport, and acts as Lead Coach of club’s U18 Girls squad. Jim sits on the UAE RF Mini & Youth committee and continues to support the HSBC tournament as a committee member.

Professionally, Jim is the Global Commercial Leader for Reacton Fire Suppression Ltd, an international fire products manufacturer; He has been residing in the UAE for the past 14 years.

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 (one of the ‘Big-4’ accounting firms) working in the Strategy and Transactions part of the business. 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 and her husband Simon have both been actively involved within the Dubai Hurricanes family for a number of years, Nichola previously as a Medic and Simon as a Coach, and their son Charles is now a member of the Colts squad. 

Nichola is a Partner and Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution and Real Property at James Berry & Associates Legal Consultants. Having previously worked in the banking sector and as a company secretary, Nichola studied law at Lincoln University as a mature student, where she gained a First Class LL.B (Hons) and was awarded the University’s prize for “Outstanding Performance in Law” upon graduation. Nichola became a member of Lincoln’s Inn and was awarded a Sir Thomas More Bursary from the Inn to assist in studying for her Bar Vocational Course. She was subsequently called to The Bar of England and Wales in 2004 and joined James Berry & Associates in July 2012.

Nichola’s current U.A.E. practice is predominantly litigation and real property based. Her real property practice includes: – commercial and residential landlord and tenant, property purchases and sales, off-plan property disputes and construction matters. Nichola’s litigation practice includes advising on criminal, regulatory, and professional/medical negligence cases, commercial debt recovery and commercial litigation. Nichola represents clients in domestic and international arbitration and has full rights of audience in the DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) Courts. She is also a volunteer in the Academy of Law Pro-Bono Programme. Nichola is also a practising Barrister (England & Wales), and an Associate Member (Chancery/Civil) of 36 Group Chambers in London.

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.

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.