Manama: Bahrain Rugby Football Club’s (RFC) first XV will be looking to make it three wins from three games played as they welcome Kuwait Scorpions to Saar this afternoon.
Two bonus point wins provided a good start to the season but with Doha Is unwilling to reschedule the October 9 fixture – which Bahrain were unable to fulfil – the reigning champions are in the driving seat.
Although far from full-strength, there are no such selection issues this weekend as a number of players make long-awaited returns to the fold following injury and unavailability.
In total, the starting side for today’s game shows five changes and a couple of positional switches from that which hammered Muscat 55-5 three weeks ago.
Up front, Rob Young makes his Bahrain debut in a sturdy front-row alongside regular incumbent Arron Dalgarno and the returning Sal Wilson, allowing Lyndon English to revert to a more familiar position in the engine room alongside Matt McKee.
Jack Sale is retained at blindside flanker, with new father Ollie Hunt entrusted with the role of open side and Toby Borrow continuing at number eight following his hat-trick against Muscat.
Rob Bennett and Luke Radley remain in situ in the half-backs, with Pete Carpenter making his first appearance of the season at centre, inside captain Adam Wallace.
Oli Luke has passed a late fitness test but will be kept in reserve to begin, meaning Kern Wales shifts to full-back and Dan Tomanek comes in for his first start on the wing, with Terrence Tantoh on the other flank.
An extended bench makes for interesting reading, with former club captains Rich Wilkinson and Tom Ham both included alongside fellow forwards Kevin Kithinji, Mark Burnell, Matt Axton, Sam Wilson and long-term absentee Rich Muncaster.
Kick-off in Saar this afternoon is at the later time of 5pm and all support will be gratefully received.
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