How the Dubai 7s is driving rugby’s growth across the Middle East

A product of the Bath academy system, Wheeler’s journey has taken him far from the English rugby heartlands to the desert pitches of the Middle East, where he now represents Saudi Arabia and plays a central role in the region’s growing rugby scene.

Most recently, Wheeler featured at the Dubai 7s for Riyadh Rugby Club, a tournament that has become a focal point for rugby development across the Middle East.

For Riyadh RFC, the event is more than just a weekend of rugby. In 2025, the club sent three teams – an open men’s side, a Gulf veterans team and an international vets outfit – underlining both the depth and ambition of the club.

“As Riyadh Rugby Club we took three teams,” Wheeler said. “We took an open men’s team, we took a vets Gulf team and we also competed in the international vets so we came up against top international over-35s in the world.”

The calibre of opposition and teammates highlights the unique pull of the Dubai 7s. Wheeler’s vets side faced teams packed with former internationals, including Alex Goode, Victor Vito and Rene Ranger, while Riyadh themselves fielded a star-studded lineup featuring Willi Heinz, Henry Speight, Nigel Ah Wong and England Olympians Richard de Carpentier and Phil Burgess.

“For us in the vets, it was six games in three days,” Wheeler said. “Apart from the Dubai Hurricanes, we were one of the biggest teams there in terms of presence. We love it – it’s something we channel everything towards at the end of the year.”

Beyond the spectacle, Wheeler sees Dubai as a critical driver of rugby’s regional growth. Sevens, in particular, offers a faster pathway for emerging nations. “The highlight reel looks a lot more exciting playing 7s,” he said.

“There’s a lot more action and we have a lot of good athletes here.” While Wheeler admits his heart lies with the traditional 15-a-side game, he acknowledges that sevens may be the most realistic springboard for Middle Eastern rugby in the short term.

Looking ahead, Wheeler believes Saudi Arabia has genuine long-term potential on the international stage, even daring to dream of World Cup qualification one day. “I can’t see why not,” he said.

“If you look at the UAE, they’ve gone from 105th in the world to 40th with an established federation and ecosystem. We don’t have that yet, but the Saudis I play with here are phenomenal.”

For Wheeler, tournaments like the Dubai 7s are proof that the foundations are being laid. With growing participation, elite athletes and increasing ambition, rugby in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East is no longer just surviving – it’s starting to thrive.