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The Bahrain Rugby Club is making a six figure 'significant investment' to upgrade its sporting and clubhouse facilities as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations planned for next year.
A state-of-the-art artificial turf is currently being laid to standards approved by the International Rugby Board (IRB) to provide an all-weather multi-sports playing surface which is sure to be the envy of the Gulf region.
A new 'a la carte' restaurant is also shortly to be officially unveiled to complement the complete refurbishment of the club's kitchens.
"These are exciting times," said new chairman Mehdi Honar. "We needed to invest to meet the growing demand from a community hungry for world-class sporting and social facilities.
"We were determined to deliver in plenty of time for our very special anniversary.
"Thanks to the superb sponsorship we have secured from the business community we can look to the future with growing confidence."
Mr Honar is helping to drive through the changes with a newly-appointed committee made up of club captain Kevan Riley, vice-chairman Gary Adriaan, house member Andrew Stephenson, treasurer Alex Richardson, general secretary Paul Mills, membership secretary Carol Moolman and social secretary Guy Parker.
The artificial turf is currently being placed over an area of 112 metres x 70 metres on land that struggles to thrive as natural grass because of playing demands on the desert ground and harsh summer weather.
Although the club will still boast natural grass rugby and soccer pitches the new playing surface will offer a golden opportunity to members as well as a multitude of sporting clubs and promoters looking for suitable stadia to stage their events.
The 'next generation' surface believed to have cost in excess of BD100,000 has been specially-adapted to allow for the more physically demanding game of rugby to be played and is regarded by sportsmen and women as being of higher-quality than most artificial soccer pitches.
Similar surfaces have already been tried and tested on a global stage, for example, in Hong Kong, which stages the world's premier rugby sevens tournament.
"This will be the first artificial rugby pitch in the Gulf," said Mr Riley, "allowing people to play a variety of sports 24x7.
"The fact that it will be certified by the IRB means that we will have an authorised playing surface fit to host international matches - the standard is that good!"
Currently, the club has a 1st team, a Veterans side, a 2nd team who play under the Irish legendary name of Firbolgs, as well as attracting hundreds of young players from the age of six for junior rugby sessions.
The club has also invested heavily in floodlighting. Although these new sporting facilities are a fabulous addition, the committee is determined to ensure the comfort of the 800-strong membership is constantly under scrutiny.
Large sums have been invested to fully upgrade the kitchens with new freezers, equipment and work stations. The soft opening of its celebrated new 'a la carte' Mano's Restaurant now complement the eating facilities available around the bar area.
"The Bahrain Rugby Club is so much more than just a sporting facility - it's like a village hall - a community facility where families can come together and have fun in a welcoming and friendly atmosphere," explained facilities manager Bob Phillips.
"We get many mums and dads who come to watch their children participate in healthy sporting activities and then stay on after training to enjoy the good food and ambience.
"Some even originally came here as kids with their parents and have all grown up, married and now bring along the own children to enjoy what's on offer!"
