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Dear Stan,AS the youngest age group representing Bahrain RFC in the Dubai Exiles Mini Rugby Festival on February 13, the 14-boy squad who made up the BRFC under-8s deserve a special mention.

Consisting of players ranging from six to eight years old with little or no real match experience they dominated their Pool.

With victories over Abu Dhabi French and Arabian Knights and draws with Dubai Hurricanes 1 and Dubai Exiles 4, they were the only team in their group not to lose a game which deservedly earned them a place in the quarter finals against Abu Dhabi French whom they had beaten earlier.

It was a tight well-fought match but Bahrain were yet again victorious and so went onto to face the mighty Dubai Exiles 1 in the semi- final.

Bahrain pushed them to the end but a well-drilled Exiles side grabbed a last minute break away try to seal the game much to the disappointment of the Bahrain team and its supporters.

The fact that the Dubai Exiles 1 went on to win the whole competition speaks volumes for this U8 side and we can take comfort that the future of mini rugby in Bahrain is in safe hands.

Further special mention must go to the head coach, Iwan Griffiths, team player of the tournament, Clark Douglas, and finally the parents and family who travelled with the children and helped make it a tournament to remember .

Best regards,

Michael Enright,

By email.