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Bahrain Rugby Football Club’s First XV players are calling on fans to get down to the ground in Janabiya on Friday to help cheer them on to victory in a crucial top-of-the-table clash against Doha, writes Kristian Harrison.
It is hoped that a partisan crowd and feverish support will act as the 16th man and help push the team over the line as they seek to leapfrog over Qatari arch-rivals into second place in the West Asia Premiership league table.
Bahrain currently sit third with 30 points from 10 games, separated from Doha within touching distance by five points. Abu Dhabi Harlequins have stormed ahead, winning eight of their 10 games - with one draw and one loss both against Doha - to sit on 38 points with the chasing pack starting to close in.
Bahrain’s last two games are against Doha and Abu Dhabi, and with a maximum of five points available per game, there is a chance they can win the league and qualify as top seed for the play-offs.
The team’s recent success on the field comes as the new guiding hand at the helm, international rugby coach Louie Tonkin, steers a new course on the training pitch. It appears to be paying dividends.
Tonkin only came to the kingdom from his native Wales last summer. He was head coach at Carmarthen Quins RFC and Pontypool RFC before becoming head of rugby at Cardiff University.
Two of his old university friends, who have since moved to Bahrain, asked him if he would be interested in visiting the kingdom and coaching the first team, and he instantly fell in love with the island and agreed on the move.
Tonkin explained: “When I came in, I found a lot of talent and hugely impressive facilities. However, there was no drive behind the team and little in the way of coaching. Everything was playerled, which causes its own problems, and so I essentially tore everything up and started again.
“Bahrain is a fantastic place to play rugby. There’s a lot of potential here with plenty of interest and a large catchment area. With the establishment of the West Asian Premiership to replace the former regional competition, it’s a lot more serious now and this has engaged the public as well as the players.
“In my time here, I’ve seen a great rugby culture develop. A lot of guys were playing but not seriously, and now they’re fully committed members of the squad. Quite a few were also born here and I’ve instilled a feeling of national pride in them; they’re playing for their country as much as themselves.”
Tonkin has imparted his own attacking brand of rugby on the team as well as bringing them together into a cohesive unit. Last season before his arrival, their form was patchy at best, including a defeat of more than 100 points in Abu Dhabi, but since his arrival they have tightened up whilst playing with a quicker tempo and an offensive mentality.
The team trains four-times a-week, mixing skills and physical conditioning, most of whom whilst balancing full-time jobs. The Welshman is also proud of the fact that the rugby
club comfortably draws the biggest crowds in the region and has made Bahrain one of the toughest places to come for visiting teams.
He said: “It’s going to be a fantastic game with two committed sides fighting for silverware and the chance to progress to the playoffs. Doha are the league’s form side, but we are desperate to win and have the passionate home support behind us.
“They can make all the difference in a tightly-fought contest. It will be physical and feisty, but played in a good spirit with a great atmosphere. As much as we enjoy the support, we also want to make sure we give back by putting on an entertaining show and hopefully attract the interest of more youngsters who might want to take up the game.”
