RUGBY – BAHRAIN’S First XV and Second XV rugby teams are both in action today at home in their respective regional tournaments.
The First XV will be taking on the Dubai Sharks First XV in the 2025-26 Men’s West Asia Premiership, while the Second XV will be facing the Sharks’ Second XV in 2025-26 UAE Division One action.
Both games are set to be played at Bahrain Rugby Club (BRC) in Saar, with the kingdom’s First XV scheduled to take to the pitch at 6pm and the Second XV competing at 4pm.
Fans are welcome to watch the fixtures at the venue. The games will also be livestreamed on BRC’s YouTube channel.
BRC announced the First XV’s squad list for their contest against the Sharks. The players include David Ofori-Manteaw, Mackenzie Oliver, Andries de Kock, Tian Jacobs, Awethu Lushozi, Charlie Farmer, Alastair Crombie, Sesona Macala, Kenta Katsuna, Cormac Fox, Gregor Smith, James Newey, Greg Heath, Josh Petro, Jack Hocking, Lindsey Gibson, Matthew McKee, Nick Young, Aled Morris, Rhys Fitzgerald, Romeo Eksteen, David Evans, and Joel Kidgell.
Adam Wallace is the director of rugby, Gibson the forwards coach, Jack Parry the scrum and defence coach, Ross Preedy the backs coach, and Heath the strength and conditioning coach.
Bahrain’s First XV will be looking to maintain their winning ways against the visitors, having won all six of their games so far – earning them solo first place on the Men’s West Asia Premiership’s seven-team table. The Sharks currently boast a 3-3 win-loss record in fourth.
Meanwhile, the Second XV squad was also announced by BRC. The roster features Oli Sanson, Martin Prinsloo, Brandon Bourgeois, Luan Steyn, Stan Mortenson, Jayden Summers, Cooper Comrie, Dylan Vermeulen, Josh de Beer, Sam Withers, Thibaut Pourcel, Joseph Rizzardi, Dan Dryden, Chris Kropp, Deina Morete, Terry Jones, Cameron Thomson, Muhaimin Nafie, Deon Puren, Cobus Grierson, Juan Coetsee, and Will Todd, with Gibson and Parry being the team’s coaches.
The Second XV have played just two games so far this season, which they have split for a 1-1 record. They are currently eighth on the 10-team standings in UAE Division One.
Regular season matches for both Bahrain’s First XV and Second XV are scheduled to continue until early March, after which the semi-finals and finals of both leagues are set to be played in April.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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