What age can my child start rugby at Dubai Exiles?

The Mini & Youth section starts at Under 5, which the club describes as from age four, and runs through to Under 18. The sign-up form asks for your child's date of birth and age grade.

How much are junior memberships for 2026/27?

The club's Programmes page lists U5-U8 at AED 2,350 + VAT, U18 boys at AED 3,800 + VAT, other Mini & Youth groups at AED 3,650 + VAT and junior netball at AED 3,300 + VAT. There are sibling and referral discounts. Ask the club exactly what each fee covers.

When do the juniors train?

All junior rugby trains at The Sevens. U5-U8: Saturday 8:00-9:00 AM. U9-U13: Thursday 6:00-7:30 PM and Saturday 8:00-9:30 AM. U14-U16 and girls: Thursday 6:00-7:30 PM and Saturday 9:30-11:00 AM. U18: Tuesday and Thursday 7:30-9:00 PM. Junior netball: Sunday 8:00 AM at JVC Nakheel Netball Hub.

Can we try a session before joining?

Yes. The club says your first session is free. You can just turn up, or email hello@dubaiexiles.com first.

Is my child's rugby tackle-free?

Contact rugby starts at Under 9, so U5-U8 minis play without tackling. Girls' Quick Rip rugby at U12 and U14 is a tag game.

Dubai Exiles Rugby Club: minis, youth rugby and junior netball in Dubai

Q: Is there rugby for girls?

Yes. Teams from Under 5 to Under 12 are mixed. Girls can also play Quick Rip (tag) rugby at Under 12 and Under 14, then contact rugby at Under 16 and Under 18. The club's timetable lists a 'U14-U16 & Girls' group on Thursday 6:00-7:30 PM and Saturday 9:30-11:00 AM.

Ball SportsRugby

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

Al Marmoom

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Ages4–17years old
PriceAED 2,350a year, lowest price
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Dubai Exiles RFC was founded in 1966 and calls itself the UAE's oldest rugby club. It is a not-for-profit community club, and since 2008 its home ground has been The Sevens on Al Ain Road. Alongside senior men's and women's teams, it runs a Mini & Youth rugby section from Under 5 to Under 18 and a junior netball section from Under 6 to Under 18. Mini rugby (U5-U8) trains on Saturday mornings. From Under 9, most age groups add a Thursday evening session and start contact rugby (U18 train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings). Girls have their own pathway: tag-style Quick Rip at Under 12 and Under 14, then contact rugby at Under 16 and Under 18. The club lists its 2026/27 fees on its Programmes page and offers sibling and referral discounts. Your child's first session is free, and the club says you can just turn up. Junior netball is held separately, on Sunday mornings at the JVC Nakheel Netball Hub.

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The activity

Rugby, explained

Rugby is a running, passing and tackling team game played with an oval ball that can only be passed backwards. Young children usually start with tag or touch versions: they carry the ball, dodge and pass, and a defender 'tackles' by pulling a tag from a belt or with a two-handed touch. Contact is brought in gradually as players get older, with coaches teaching safe tackling and falling first. Along the way children build speed, balance, coordination and confidence, and learn to work as a team and respect the referee. Club minis sections often take children from about four or five, grouped by age band such as Under 6 or Under 9.

Who it's for

Boys and girls from Under 5 to Under 18. Under 5 to Under 12 teams are mixed, and contact rugby starts at Under 9. Girls can instead play Quick Rip (tag) rugby at Under 12 and Under 14, then girls' contact rugby at Under 16 and Under 18. Beginners are welcome. Junior netball runs from Under 6 to Under 18 for all abilities. For netball, the club asks you to pick the age group closest to your child's current school year and confirms the squad after you register.

What to expect

Your child's first session is free, and the club says you can just turn up or email [email protected] first. Minis (U5-U8) train on Saturdays from 8:00 to 9:00 AM at The Sevens. Mini rugby is mixed, and contact is only introduced at Under 9. To join, you fill in the club's online form. It asks for your child's date of birth and Emirates ID number and whether you consent to photos. Players need their own private health insurance. From Under 9, the UAE Rugby Federation also requires a secondary policy, and the club says that cost is included in membership. For kit, and for which pitch your child's group uses on the day, ask the club.

Highlights

Mini & Youth rugby from Under 5 to Under 18, mixed up to Under 12 (dubaiexiles.com)
Girls' pathway: Quick Rip (tag) at U12 and U14, contact rugby at U16 and U18 (dubaiexiles.com)
First session free; you can just turn up (dubaiexiles.com)
Sibling and referral discounts on membership (dubaiexiles.com)
Junior netball U6-U18 on Sunday mornings at JVC Nakheel Netball Hub (dubaiexiles.com)
Founded 1966; a not-for-profit community club based at The Sevens since 2008 (dubaiexiles.com)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

Dubai Exiles Rugby Club has 4.6 stars on Google from 40 reviews. 34 of those reviews are five-star, 1 is four-star, 3 are three-star and 2 are one-star.

The facts

Ages: Rugby: Under 5 to Under 18 (mixed up to U12; contact from U9; girls' Quick Rip at U12/U14, girls' contact at U16/U18)
Netball: Under 6 to Under 18
Prices: 2026/27 fees on the club's Programmes page
U5-U8 rugby: AED 2,350 + VAT
U18 boys: AED 3,800 + VAT
Rest of Mini & Youth: AED 3,650 + VAT
Junior netball: AED 3,300 + VAT
Sibling and referral discounts are available
Schedule: At The Sevens: U5-U8 Sat 8:00-9:00 AM; U9-U13 Thu 6:00-7:30 PM and Sat 8:00-9:30 AM; U14-U16 & girls Thu 6:00-7:30 PM and Sat 9:30-11:00 AM; U18 Tue & Thu 7:30-9:00 PM. Netball: Sun 8:00 AM at JVC Nakheel Netball Hub.
Trial: First session free; you can just turn up, or email the club first.
Where: The Sevens, Al Ain Road (E66), Dubai: rugby · JVC Nakheel Netball Hub, Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai: netball
How to book: dubaiexiles.com/join · +971 58 565 1966 · [email protected]

Guide · 8 min readRead: One sport or several? What the evidence says about kids playing more than one sport

Questions parents ask

Good to know

Your child needs private health insurance to play. From Under 9, a UAE Rugby Federation secondary policy is also required, and the club includes it in membership (dubaiexiles.com)
The rugby registration form asks for your child's Emirates ID number (dubaiexiles.com)
Fees are shown plus VAT (dubaiexiles.com)
You can pay by bank transfer, or by card, cash or cheque at the club office (dubaiexiles.com)
Wheelchair-accessible entrance, car park and toilet (Google listing)