The 2015/16 UAE Conference winners, Sharjah Wanderers will not be playing Expat Conference rugby this season.

In a statement made on social media by the rugby club, they have announced that their men’s 1st XV squad will not be putting a team together this season.

The ‘Wandies’ have had to withdraw from rugby this year. The only representing club of the Emirate of Sharjah has always been the team to beat in the Conference league. Winners of the title in 2015/16, semi finalists in 2016/17 and finalists in 2017/18, just missing out to a sudden death try against the Dubai Tigers on finals day down at Dubai Sports City. Wanderers Chairman, Shane Breen pointed to a decline in player numbers with the squad no longer able to compete at the level required for Conference rugby. Breen said,

“At the end of last season we lost over half of our squad, mostly due to guys relocating or taking some time away from rugby.”

The Wanderers are not alone in their struggle this pre season as we have also witnessed the likes of Saracens dropping from the Premiership and the Beaver Nomads withdrawing from Community level rugby.

“This definitely isn’t the last you’ll see of the Wandies men’s team who’ll still be competing in the Dubai Sevens and other social competitions throughout the year.”

They have assured us though that they will be back next season (2019/20) and will be participating in this years Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby Sevens competition which will be held at The Sevens Stadium on the 29th November.

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish the Wanderers all the best in their comeback and feel they will be a miss in local rugby this year.