We believe in traditional values
Years of Experience
Founded by experienced educators, coaches and former players with more than 100 years of combined coaching experience, Dubai Lions exists to grow participation in rugby across Dubai and the UAE while helping young people develop confidence, resilience, teamwork and character.
Jacques Benade
Chairman
Jacques is a former Blue Bulls and Sharks player who also captained South Africa A in 1995. After retiring, he built a coaching career in South Africa, Ireland and the UAE, and now leads the rugby programme at Dubai College as Director of Rugby.
From 2015 to 2025, he oversaw a dominant period at Dubai Exiles RFC, winning all major domestic titles while also improving coach education, parent engagement and player standards across the club. He is also Head Coach of the UAE national team, guiding them to back-to-back second-place finishes in the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship.
Earlier roles at Malone RFC and Ballymena RFC helped shape his reputation for building strong performance environments and player pathways. His main passion is developing young players and helping girls and boys in Dubai grow in confidence, skill and ambition so they are ready for higher-level rugby later on.
Daniel Riordan
General Manager
Daniel played a wide range of sports before focusing on basketball, which took him to the Manchester Giants in England’s top division and into the England U23 side for the home nations tournament. Those years gave him first-hand experience of elite performance, teamwork and competition.
After moving to Dubai in 2003, he switched his focus to rugby and spent nearly 10 years with the Dubai Exiles first team, helping them win the Gulf Men’s XVs League and the Gulf Men’s Dubai 7s. The move added another layer to his understanding of strong team culture and long-term success.
He has worked in education for more than 25 years and has coached three sports to UK National Finals. At Dubai College, he leads basketball and athletics while also supporting rugby, with a focus on helping young athletes grow in confidence, character and ambition. A recent Master’s degree in Sport Business, Management and Policy has also strengthened his knowledge of sports leadership and long-term programme development.
Development Approach
Whether your child is new to rugby or already has experience, Dubai Lions offers a welcoming environment where every player can thrive, make friends and develop a lifelong love of the game. Our structured programmes focus on enjoyment, skill development and creating clear pathways for players to progress through school, community and representative rugby.
Join the Pride and become part of Dubai’s newest rugby community.
New for 2026
Membership Option
All sessions will be delivered by qualified coaches following UAE Rugby and World Rugby best-practice guidelines, with appropriate coach-to-player ratios to ensure high-quality learning and player welfare.
