Bahrain kicked off their 2023-24 rugby season in fine style yesterday with a 40-0 thrashing administered to the visiting Doha Rugby Football Centre (DRFC) team in a pre-season friendly at the Bahrain Rugby Football Club (BRFC).
The season starts in earnest next Friday at the BRFC when the two teams meet again for the first game of the seven-team, 2023-24 West Asia Premiership.
Bahrain are the Premiership defending champions, having won a hat-trick of titles last April by defeating the Dubai Tigers, 23-17, in a nervy final.
“This was a very good win against a tough Doha opposition,” Bahrain assistant coach Lindsey Gibson told the GDN.
“The game was a lot tougher than the score-line suggests and the boys did very well.
“It’s been a tough pre-season time so good to finally get a game. We had a lot of new guys playing, some of whom are new to the island.
“We also had some boys who have been playing for the Colts and others who turned out for the Golden Oldies. So it was good for those new lads to get some game time.”
Gibson said that 28 players had been able to turn out for the friendly match, adding that it boded well for Bahrain’s season-opening game against the same opposition on Friday.
“Some of those guys have been on the island for a long time now and had been desperate to play for the first team,” Gibson continued.
“So it was great to get those boys a game and get a lot of good minutes into some good players. We’re now looking forward to playing the Premiership’s first game on Friday.”
A few players who took part in yesterday’s game were singled out for particular praise by Gibson.
“I must make a special mention to Fiachra Wynn, who was brilliant, and Mason Porteous, who made a fantastic debut,” he said.
“Also, Joe Blake, who stepped up from the U-18s to make his debut, was outstanding.”
Seven teams will take part in the Premiership this time, as opposed to five from last year, with the Dubai Hurricanes and Doha re-joining the league after missing the 2022-23 season.
Dubai Tigers, Dubai Exiles, Jebel Ali Dragons and Abu Dhabi Harlequins are the other teams taking part in the 2023-24 West Asia Premiership.
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