Match Program Bahrain vs Abu Dhabi Harlequins Friday 29th September Kick off: 6pm RE D WALL A message from our Chairman Mike Cunningham It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Bahrain Rugby Football Club for the first home game of the new season. After the excitement of last year’s WA Premiership Final and our recent appearances in the WA Champions League, we look forward to another highly entertaining season ahead. Louie and his squad have been training hard through the pre-season and we anticipate a strong challenge for silverware this year. Welcome to today’s opponents, Abu Dhabi Harlequins and congratulations on their recent success in the WA Champions League. As holders of all the major trophies from last year, we hope they will not be too disappointed if Bahrain have relieved them of one or two by the end of the season. We are fortunate to have a loyal following and the continued support of our key sponsors once again this year. Also a warm welcome to those for whom this will be their first year of association with our club. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our sponsors and supporters for their commitment to Bahrain Rugby Football Club. I hope you enjoy the game. Yallah Bahrain A message from our Director of Rugby And so it begins again… Welcome back to BRFC for our season start! Louie Tonkin Welcome back to Bahrain RFC for a brand new season and a brand new West Asia Premiership Campaign. What an amazing few weeks we’ve had and what a few months the players have had training in this heat - but now a lot of the hard work has been done and its all about putting it out there in our performance tonight. Tonight we welcome reigning champions and fierce rivals Abu Dhabi Harlequins to BRFC in an excit- ing rematch from our West Asia Cup Final last season. The “Quins” are undoubtedly the team to beat in our region and although they are an extremely humble team they have every right to come to us this evening with lots of confidence. Quins and Exiles are the only 2 teams I haven’t won against in my time in Bahrain and my record against Quins currently sits at 0-4 which doesn’t make for kind reading. Although we do have a confidence about us this evening also - and rightly so after showing glimpses of brilliance in our games against the Quins (Sept 8th) and Kandy last weekend. Many of the players have played in 3 different countries in as many weeks - with our inclusion in the Western Clubs Champions League this year it has given us fantastic preparation for the upcoming campaign. We showed some real attacking threat against Quins in game 1 but struggled with our set piece/ we then went to Kuwait with a mixed side but really made some improvements in our founda- tions - set piece and kicking - and then last but not least our trip to Kandy was massively rewarding in so many ways and the result was all important. We feel we are match hardened now and thus is the nature of the sport we have picked up niggles but so will all the other teams also. Unfortunately one of our niggles just happens to be our talisman and captain Adam Wallace and he will not be involved in this evenings game which is a real shame but he is recovering well. I’ve never been more proud of a group than I was last week when our players represented the club so brilliantly in Sri Lanka - giving back to the children of Sri Lanka was an amazing experience for our players and they carried themselves brilliantly - I couldn’t be prouder. I hope now this evening they do themselves justice and get what they deserve and what they are most certainly capable of - which is that all important win and the league start. Yours in Rugby Louie Tonkin West Asia Premiership League Table WEST ASIA PREMIERSHIP POINTS POINTS PLACE TEAM PLAYED WON LOST DRAW DIFF POINTS FOR AGAINST 1 DUBAI EXILES 1 1 0 0 85 8 +77 5 2 ABU DHABI HARLEQUINS 1 1 0 0 34 33 +1 5 3 DUBAI HURRICANES 1 1 0 0 28 13 +15 4 4 JEBEL ALI DRAGONS 1 0 1 0 33 34 -1 2 5 DUBAI EAGLES 1 0 1 0 8 85 -77 0 6 ABU DHABI SARACENS 1 0 1 0 13 28 -15 0 7 BAHRAIN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NEXT FIXTURES - OCT 13TH @ 5PM - ABU DHABI SARACENS VS BAHRAIN OCT 20TH @ 5PM - DUBAI EXILES VS BAHRAIN 1ST XV VS ABU DHABI HARLEQUINS @ BRFC FRI 29TH SEPT 6PM STARTERS 1 DAVIS TUI 2 LINDSEY GIBSON (C) 3 RICH MUNCASTER 4 MARK BURNELL 5 JONNY KENNY IMPACT 6 RHYS FITZGERALD R OLI SANSON 7 ALASTAIR CROMBIE Team selection 1ST XV VS ABU DHABI HARLEQUINSR MATT MCKEE 8 JACK SALE 1ST XV VS ABU DHABI HARLEQUINS R MAX SALE 9 ROB BENNETT 1ST XV VS ABU DHABI HARLEQUINSR ELLIOT BEHAN 10 IWAN PHILLIPS @ BRFC FRI 29TH SEPT 6PM R SHANE STAPLETON @ BRFC FRI 29TH SEPT 6PM11 TERENCE TANTOH R OLLIE LUKE @ BRFC FRI12 DAI 29TH EVANS SEPT 6PM R JOEL LEWIS STARTERSSTARTERS 13 LUKE RADLEY 1 DAVIS TUI 14 GRAHAM BISHOP 1 STARTERS 2 LINDSEY GIBSONDAVIS (C) TUI 15 DEINA MORETE 1 DAVIS TUI 3 RICH2 MUNCASTERLINDSEY GIBSON (C) 2 LINDSEY GIBSON (C) 4 MARK3 BURNELL RICH MUNCASTER 3 RICH MUNCASTER 5 JONNY KENNY IMPACT 4 6 RHYS FITZGERALDMARK BURNELL 4 MARK BURNELL R OLI SANSON 7 ALASTAIR5 CROMBIEJONNY KENNY 5 JONNY KENNY R MATT MCKEE IMPACT IMPACT 8 JACK SALE 6 RHYS FITZGERALD 6 RHYS FITZGERALD R MAX SALE R 9 ROB BENNETT R OLI SANSON 7 ALASTAIRR ELLIOT CROMBIE BEHAN OLI SANSON 10 IWAN7 PHILLIPSALASTAIR CROMBIE R MATT MCKEE 8 JACKR SALESHANE STAPLETON R MATT MCKEE 11 TERENCE8 TANTOH R MAX SALE JACK SALE 9 R OLLIE LUKE 12 ROB BENNETT R DAI EVANS MAX SALE R 9 ROB BENNETT R JOEL LEWIS ELLIOT BEHAN 13 LUKE RADLEY 10 IWAN PHILLIPS R ELLIOT BEHANR SHANE STAPLETON 14 GRAHAM10 BISHOPIWAN PHILLIPS 11 TERENCE TANTOH R R OLLIE LUKE 15 SHANE STAPLETON DEINA11 MORETETERENCE TANTOH 12 DAI EVANS R R JOEL LEWIS 13 LUKE RADLEY OLLIE LUKE 12 DAI EVANS 14 GRAHAM BISHOP R JOEL LEWIS 13 LUKE RADLEY 15 DEINA MORETE 14 GRAHAM BISHOP 15 DEINA MORETE Player Profile JONNY KENNY Date of Birth - 17 September 1994 Nickname - KENNY/ TYSON FURY Best Player Played with - Maro Itoje for England 18s Most Memorable Game - Welsh Varsity Match 2016 - Last game for CURFC. Honours: England U16 + U18s Previous Clubs: Macclesfield RFC/ Cardiff University RFC/ Bridgend RFC. Jon Kenny or “Kenny” as he’s referred to often is a huge character both on and off the pitch. A huge man standing at 6ft 6inches and 18st; he is a real asset to our pack and gives our front 5 a different look this year. A strong and experienced Lock from England and recently plyed his trade for Bridgend RFC in the Welsh Premiership whilst studying his BSc and MSc degrees in Cardiff University. It was during his time at Cardiff University that he played under Bahrain Director of Rugby - Louie Tonkin. Meeting Kenny it was clear at an early stage that he had all the talent in the world. 2 strong seasons at CURFC under Tonkin playing in the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) Premiership and 2 strong Welsh Varsity appearances Kenny was able to land himself a Semi Professional contract with Bridgend RFC and played for them week in week out against Wales finest 2nd tier players. Whilst at Bridgend RFC - Kenny was asked to represent Ospreys “A” in the Birtish and Irish Cup competition and played in matches against London Irish, Harlequins and the Cornish Pirates. Jon was recruited by the club to strengthen our front 5 and he is already doing that along with the welcome return of Davis Tui. These 2 large forwards bring a physicality and weight to our pack which will make us a formidable outfit for anyone to face. Although a talented player - Jon is also a talented entertainer - if you haven’t seen it yet don't be afraid to ask him for his rendition of the song - Karma Chameleon! It is special!! :) Player Profile LUKE RADLEY Date of Birth - 15th February 1989 Nickname - Radders, 100%man, Housewives favourite, Prince Charming Best Player Played with - Billy Twelvetrees/ Courtney Lawes/ Will Chudley - Bedford Blues Academy Best Player Played Against - Manu Tuilagi - Daily Mail Cup Most Memorable Game - Winning National Colts Cup @ Franklins Gardens w/ Bedford or Youth National Cup @ Twickenham w/ Ampthill Honours - Bedford Academy Ampthill 1st XV The other half of our Goldie Locked half backs is the fan favourite and ladies favourite Luke Radley. “Radders” is our outside half and has been a huge part of the 1st team for a few years now and has been a huge instigator and driver behind the 1st team squads culture change this season along with other leadership group members. Driving our standards off the pitch with his training ethic and professionalism and driving our gameplan on the pitch. Having an impressive rugby pedigree before arriving Radders arrived to Bahrain as a recruited player in 2012. Coming through the age groups and English Academy game with current English International Stars at Bedford Academy for 3 years between 2005 and 2008 his skill set and rugby ability stands him with the best 10s in the gulf and UAE.