He bounced back to form in October, helping Britain beat South Africa in the Davis Cup, winning the Grand Slam Cup in Munich and the ATP CA Tournament in Vienna.
His biggest tournament win came in the 1999 Grand Slam Cup but this was followed by a lean period, the low point of which was a humiliating first round Wimbledon defeat to Vince Spadea the following year.
However, you cannot forget that the side which won the 2003 Grand Slam and went on to win the World Cup lost three Grand Slam matches before they won their first Slam, so if England lose on Saturday, this side should not be written off.
D'Arcy, 29, was sidelined with a broken arm in 2008 but has returned to form to help Ireland capture the Six Nations Grand Slam and Leinster win the Heineken Cup.
The International Tennis Federation, which organises the four Grand Slam tournaments as well as the Fed Cup and Davis Cup, said it would be in contact with the UAE's tennis federation.
He said the match offers Jones a "great opportunity" to "deliver for Wales again" and has teamed him up with Thomas in the hope that the pair's speed and footballing skills will help his Grand Slam team outsmart the World Cup winners.
The Kiwi made a huge impression when he took the job, taking on Wales' 2007 World Cup flops and leading them to the 2008 Grand Slam.
The 32-year-old quit Test rugby after the 2007 World Cup but returned to the fold to help Wales win the Grand Slam.
The reigning Six Nations champions conceded a mere 15 points on their way to this year's Grand Slam and go to the World Cup ranked second in the world, behind New Zealand, who have won the last three global titles.
Thompson was on the bench for Northampton's Heineken Cup win in 2000, and he won the 2003 Six Nations Grand Slam with England and was selected for the 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand.
Wales flanker Williams and international team-mate centre Shanklin are double Grand Slam winners and helped inspire the Blues to the Heineken Cup semi-finals in 2009 and Amlin Cup Challenge trophy in 2010.
The Welsh double Grand Slam winner is set to make his debut for Heineken Cup quarter-finalists Toulon on Saturday following his move from English club Saracens.
He played 98 times for France after making his debut against Wales in 1996, and reached the World Cup final in 1999 as well as captaining the 1998 Grand Slam winning side.
In addition to his grand slam triumph at Roland Garros, Ferrero was also part of the Spanish teams who won the Davis Cup in both 2000 and 2004.
Gatland, who inspired London Wasps to Heineken Cup glory in 2004 and three successive English Premiership titles, guided Wales to the Grand Slam in his first Six Nations campaign in 2008.
While Grand Slam tennis tournaments and Formula 1 races favor the strongest competitors with better seeds and starting positions, the FA Cup has long been a resolute exception: Every round is drawn at random.
To many, the Irish skipper has done it all after leading his country to that long-awaited Grand Slam last year, going on to win the top club honour in the game with Leinster's Heineken Cup triumph.
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Since the game went professional, Wales have claimed just three wins over the Tri-Nations sides, one against a weakened South Africa in the game to open the Millennium Stadium in 1999, two against transitional post-World Cup Australia teams in Cardiff in Wales' Grand Slam years of 2005 and 2008.
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