RUGBY – Rugby fans are eagerly anticipating Bahrain’s debut on the international rugby stage tomorrow, as the kingdom’s national team play host to Jordan in an historic test match at the Bahrain Rugby Football Club (BRFC).
The 15-a-side fixture, scheduled for a 7pm kickoff, marks the first time Bahrain fields a national side in an official test match under World Rugby guidelines.
It follows three years of groundwork by the Bahrain Rugby Federation (BRF) to assemble and prepare a squad eligible to represent the kingdom.
“This has been a long time coming,” said BRF rugby director Rory Drummond.
“We’ve waited years for this opportunity and the squad has been working hard in camp for the last three weeks.
“The players are looking sharp, and we’re ready to show what rugby in Bahrain is capable of.”
The team was initially formed in 2021 and has until now only competed in seven-a-side rugby tournaments.
While the size of the field is the same for both formats, the number of players on the field is different and playing time is adapted accordingly.
A rugby sevens match lasts 14 minutes, divided in two halves of seven minutes each, with a break of one to two minutes between each half.
The traditional longer form of rugby consists of two halves of 40 minutes each, with a longer 10 to 15 minute half time depending on the competition.
Transitioning to the new format required a significant step up in terms of physical preparation, tactical structure and squad depth.
Drummond said the build-up to the match has involved managing a squad coming off a long and demanding club season.
“Having come off the back of a long club season we had many tired and sore bodies,” he explained.
“Managing this has been a challenge. We’ve had a few key players unavailable for selection but still, we are very happy with the group selected to represent the kingdom on Friday night.”
Player eligibility was a key factor in selection. Under World Rugby regulations, players must either be born in Bahrain or have lived in the country for at least five consecutive years.
The final squad includes a diverse mix of players ranging in age from 16 to over 40, representing a blend of youth and experience.
According to Drummond, making the squad was about more than just ability.
“We are a tight-knit group and being a good, hard-working and honest person is the most important thing,” he explained.
The team will be led by captain Adam Wallace and vice-captain Alastair Crombie.
Senior player Talal AlSharif and assistant coaches Ross and Jack Preedy have also played key roles in developing the team’s identity and cohesion.
The BRF was established in February 2022 following the directives of Supreme Council for Youth and Sport first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
It became a part of Asia Rugby, the regional governing body for the sport, in July 2022 and is currently chaired by Jean-Christophe Durand, who has publicly backed the squad and the organisation’s broader goal of establishing rugby as a sustainable national sport in Bahrain.
For the association, tomorrow’s match represents more than a sporting milestone.
Drummond noted that increased visibility is essential to developing rugby at the grassroots level in Bahrain, particularly among local Bahrainis, adding that he hopes to bring it to schools next year.
“We’re still in the early stages of developing rugby as a national sport,” he said.
“We are in our infancy as a national sport in Bahrain and to get local talent interested you must showcase the sport at the highest level and create role models.
“Once we have done this the next goal has to be the introduction of rugby into the school system in some capacity with a view of creating a conveyor belt of both local Bahraini talent and also eligible expatriate players.”
Tomorrow’s match is open to the public, with non-members welcome at BRFC for an entry fee of BD2.
The association has called on residents, both fans and newcomers, to attend and support the team.
“This is a moment that will never happen again,” Drummond said. “It’s Bahrain’s first ever international rugby match. We want the crowd behind us, and we promise to put on a show.”
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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