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Ladies rugby will make a welcome return to Bahrain Rugby Football Club (BRFC) this Friday, as it plays host to Kuwait Scorpions’ annual Ladies Sevens Festival.
The Kuwaiti club is this season in the process of renovating its home ground from sand to grass and so is not in a position to stage any home fixtures.
As a close friend and rival for more than 40 years however, BRFC had no hesitation in providing pitch-space to ensure the tournament could go ahead as scheduled.
Around 120 players representing nine clubs from across the region will be taking part on what promises to be an action-packed day of live sport.
Although the club is delighted to see the return of ladies rugby to the island after an absence of a number of years, unfortunately there is no BRFC ladies team to participate in the tournament itself.
Instead, the Bahraini flag will be flown by club stalwart Danielle Love, who lives in Umm Al Hassam, as she lines out for her team, Dubai Wasps.
For Bahrain-born and raised Danielle, whose love of the sport sees her travel all around the region over the course of the season, this weekend’s tournament on home soil is a rare luxury.
“It will be a welcome change to drive to the ground instead of the hassle of getting flights and all that goes with that,” the 26-year-old Tribal Fitness coach explained.
“I’ve been a member of Bahrain RFC for as long as I remember and so it would be great to be lining out in Bahrain colours on Friday but, unfortunately, there just aren’t the numbers of girls interested here to make that possible.
“I started playing with Dubai Exiles in 2009 and when those players moved to form the Dubai Wasps Ladies team, I moved with them.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing with them and they’ve always made me feel like one of their own so I will be proud to represent the club again this weekend and even more so, to do it on my home pitch.
“Living in a different country to the club team I play for isn’t exactly the ideal situation as I miss out on regular training but rugby is my sport and I don’t see it as a big enough hurdle to stop me from playing. I’ve played netball and Gaelic football here in Bahrain and, while I’ve enjoyed them, they never gave me the same feeling as I get playing rugby.”
Following defeat to Abu Dhabi Harlequins in the final of the Dubai Rugby Sevens back in December, the Wasps are out to go one better in the first tournament of 2013.
Although Danielle’s boyfriend Rich Wilkinson will be captaining Bahrain’s first XV away to Jebel Ali Dragons on the same day, the former Arabian Gulf international is hoping that friends and club members will turn out in force to support her adopted team for the day.
“It’s unfortunate that the first XV are playing away that day but I’m hoping some of my friends will come down and cheer us on. I would also encourage anyone else to come along and see for themselves that ladies rugby is alive and well in the Gulf region,” she added.
Friday’s matches are set to get underway at noon and run all the way through the afternoon before the official presentations in the early evening. All BRFC members and other interested parties are invited to attend.
l For further information on this weekend’s tournament and future events at Bahrain RFC, contact communications@bahrainrfc.com
